Brooklyn Bedouin

A Big Week

What a crazy week. Yesterday I received a cool text from my mother that told me the dean from her school had just heard me on NPR and said to her: “do you have a son…? And that I did an excellent job” I love getting good feedback.

It was for my appearance on the Brian Lehrer Show, which ranks as a personal highlight in my life – and the launch of a transportation equity message…

"... engaged African Diaspora citizens from economic, political, and community groups in Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant to discuss the economic issues directly affecting Central Brooklyn"

My relationship with radio started by attending a Community Engagement summit they held. The outcome has been my regular appearance on The Takeaway – I had an appearance there this AM and the other day met the Former Senator Bill Frist and we had a lovely chat in the green room. I might go see a Volunteers game with him sometime this fall - i'll keep you posted on that one.

Also, Transportation Alternatives had a huge week. I was at the announcement of our recent City Council win. Check out some news on that. I like the spin here, made T.A. look like the coalition politic crew.

seriously: Hello World!

ps- here was the twitter feed:

jvondeling Hooray! Just got the contracts back. @ibrahimSalih is now officially an @BerrettKoehler author. Welcome aboard!

July 29, 2009

What a morning, I have already crossed the East River twice. I went onto The Takeaway to talk about a variety of sports stories and penned a blog as well on those topics. In the WNYC green room I happened to be there with Former Senator Bill Frist. It was a lovely meeting. As the Senate Majority leader he was one of the most powerful men in the world – and this morning he was as affable and as sweet as you’d expect a southerner to be. We have certainly come a long way in this country when two men like him and myself meet under any circumstances – radio seems fitting.

Unlikely partners was the theme yesterday as I stood behind Paul Steely White  Jeanette Sadik-Khan, Yassky and Liu. Significantly, the latter pair are councilmen vying for the comptroller position – I also wound up at a Community Board 3 meeting to speak in favor of the greening of the pedestrian mall along Pike and Allen streets in Manhattan.

Briefly, there I spoke about that stretch and what it means to have what is now known as an Avenue of Immigrants, that used to have an elevated train, was also widened to bring in light, then when the train was torn down and the old foundations paved over – now to be greening, flowering, into a park. I spoke on the long view, what it meant to still open the corridor up to light, now to let that light shine from the growing world underneath. And to align the paths for bikes, and pedestrians so that people might respect one anther, that people might have to deal with one another – the fundamentals of democracy.

When I told Senator Frist of what I do, handing him a business card that says: livable streets manager, he quickly jumped – telling me about a report out that links health with where you live, work, play, etc… HE connected it to bicycles and transportation alternatives.

Hey, its 8;28am. Good morning.

Ibrahim on The Takeaway

Audio from The Takeaway.org

For more and to make a comment please visit: www dot TheTakeaway dot Org

 

Mika’il DeVeaux says Support Muslim re-entry!

Mika’il DeVeaux says:

July 23, 2009

 

Through out the year, the Muslim Re-entry Initiative in New York supports Muslims who return from prison with the hope of continuing the positive behavioral changes made in prison that they attribute to Islam.  In addition to their efforts to integrate into the larger Muslim community (most) for the very first time, their needs also include housing, employment, clothing and the basic necessities of life.  Through the Muslim Re-entry Initiative we have seen many lives changed for the better.

 

Did you know that:

• about 80% of those seeking faith while in prison come to Islam
• 95% of all State prisoners will eventually be released from prison
• Current estimates of the number of Muslims in New York State prisons range between 8,000 and 10,000

Let me share with you some of the many requests we receive for help from among the many who seek our assistance.  While in prison a large percentage write to ask for:

·         books or literature on Islam

·         help to stay focused with good advice

·         assistance preparing for release

·         correspondence courses on Islam offered by community

·         counseling from members of the community 

 

Others want assistance with employment and housing searches, job training and individual counseling

 

“I would very much appreciate it if you’re able to help me find work for me.  I will do anything.”

“. . .help me with re-entry into society.”

“I’ve been away a long time, so a structured program that will help me re-adjust or transition . . . I need transitional housing.”

“My main objective is to . . .stay practicing Islam.”

“I want to become a member of the Muslim community”

Fortunately, we have been there to help a few connect with appropriate service providers that provide housing and employment and meet other needs.  We have trained case manager ready to provide counseling and assist with the development of plans to aid the re-entry process.

The Muslim Re-entry Initiative continues to work to make a difference in the lives of people returning from prison.  Each and every person affected by the criminal justice system including the families of the incarcerated has reason to hope because we continue to be there as a result of generous donations made by people like you in the past.

However, continued work with the incarcerated, those who have returned and their families is essential to help reduce the rate at which thousands are returned to prison within three years of their initial release.

Today, you can make an immediate difference in the life of a formerly incarcerated person and even those who are currently in prison.  The money you send helps us pay for qur’ans, metro cards (bus and train fare), toilet items, welcome home stipends, voter registration education material , and counseling services.

I hope we can count on you to help this year.  We have a moral duty to be friends and protectors of each other and to act according to principles of our faith.

Suratul Insan - They (are those who) fulfill (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading (7).   And they give food, inspite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to Miskin (poor), the orphan, and the captive (8), (Saying): "We feed you seeking Allah's Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you (9).

Please send the most generous gift you can, as soon as possible (also see below). 

Paste the below link and donate now!

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=6992412

Donations are tax-deductible.

With grateful appreciation, Jazat Allah

Mika’il DeVeaux

Mika’il DeVeaux, MPS, MA, CAMF
Director

P.S. So that as many people can be helped this season as possible, please send your gift in the envelope provided so that it can have maximum impact. Thank you in advance for you kind support! If you have Qur'an, books, clothing, or are willing to employ a carefully screened prospect, we can use that help as well.

See us on the web at: http://www.citizensinc.org/MuslimReentryInitiative.html

Open Letter to the NYC Muslim Community

My name is ibrahim abdul-matin and I am writing because I need you to fill out a survey.  I am the lead researcher for IMAN-NYC.  IMAN-NYC is a project to lear n about the Muslim community in New York City and if an IMAN-like organization can work for us. 

 

To help, all you have to do is fill out the survey located here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=d_2fk1ATZ1ERM2J7h4oM0akw_3d_3d

 

The survey is 20 questions and takes about 5 minutes to finish.  It is anonymous.  This means, your answers will be private. 

 

We would like 1,000 people to fill out this survey.  So once you are done, please forward this email to all of your friends!

 

IMAN stands for Inner-city Muslim Action Network.  It is a non-profit organization in Chicago.   IMAN believes in organizing and advocacy, providing social services, and encouraging arts and culture.  For details about IMAN, please visit www.imancentral.org.

In Chicago, IMAN has the following programs:

 

Organizing and Advocacy:

• Project Restore: Reducing the number of people that go to jail and helping those who come back to the community, stay in the community.
• Immigration Rights Committee: Stop raids, deportations, and civil rights violations.
• Muslim Run: Helping Muslim owned businesses get started.

Services:

• Health Clinic: Free check-ups and screenings.
• Career Development: GED prep classes and computer classes.
• Food Pantry: providing much needed food to help those in need.
• Youth Services: helping kids talk about growing up in America.

Arts and Culture:

• Community Café: Bringing the community together to celebrate artists and musicians, encouraging young people to express themselves in a safe and healthy way.
• Takin’ it to the Streets: A street festival to celebrate the diversity of the community.

New York City is very special. In some ways, it is similar to Chicago.  In other ways, it is different from Chicago.  We have the chance to develop IMAN to be right for our needs here in NYC.  By taking this survey, you will help us learn if an IMAN-like organization is right for us in NYC. 

 

Again, the survey is located here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=d_2fk1ATZ1ERM2J7h4oM0akw_3d_3d

 

It has 20 questions and takes 5 minutes to complete.  Your answers will be private.  The more people that fill out the survey, the better.  So please forward this email to all of your friends!

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at ibrahim@imancentral.org.

 

My team and I are so thankful for your time!  May your efforts be rewarded.

 

Sincerely,

ibrahim abdul-matin

 

in the 110th st. subway, just blocks from the Mosque of Islamic Brother Hood.

Give to the The Darfur Documentary Project

The Darfur Documentary Project aims to document ordinary people in their efforts to cope with the humanitarian crisis that has been unfolding in Sudan. We wish to document grassroots community-based efforts which are addressing the structural roots of violence and injustice in Darfur, in order to leverage resources for them in the United States. So far the project is entirely self-financed with help from you and I am writing to kindly ask you to donate to it if you can.

Why? This project will leverage important funding for grassroots Sudanese led social change efforts which are laying the foundation for sustainable peace AND justice in the region.

We still need to purchase good equipment in order to produce quality footage and raise money to compensate my friend for accompanying us to his homeland. We also want to raise some money for an orphanage project in a displacement camp in Khartoum. Please consider giving and passing this email to friends and family who might be interested in supporting this effort.

You can donate by clicking on this link below: http://storiesfromdarfur.wordpress.com/donate-here/

Give MOney!

In gratitude and love,

Nisrin Elamin

Estilo Hip Hop by Loira Limbal and Virgilio Bravo

This Friday July  17, 2009 7:00 PM

 

Barnes & Noble y Latino Artists Round Table
Presentan/Presents

Special Event!

Letra e Imagenes / Words and Images

Lectura y conversación con/ Reading and conversation with:

Raquel Z. Rivera, co-editor of the book Reggaeton
and
Loira Limbal & Virgilio Bravo, directors and producers of the documentary  Estilo Hip-Hop filmed in Brazil, Chile y Cuba

Reading in English, conversation in English and Spanish
Estilo Hip Hop is in Spanish and Portuguese with English subtitles.

Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle
1972 Broadway at 66th street
TEL. (212) 595-6859

Reggaeton a hybrid of reggae and rap, reggaeton is a music with Spanish-language lyrics and Caribbean aesthetics that has taken Latin America, the United States, and the world by storm. Superstars-including Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, and Ivy Queen-garner international attention, while aspiring performers use digital technologies to create and circulate their own tracks. Reggaeton brings together critical assessments of this wildly popular genre. Journalists, scholars, and artists delve into reggaeton's local roots and its transnational dissemination; they parse the genre's aesthetics, particularly in relation to those of hip-hop; and they explore the debates about race, nation, gender, and sexuality generated by the music.

 

 

Estilo Hip Hop by Loira Limbal and Virgilio Bravo chronicles the lives of three hip hop enthusiasts from Brazil, Chile and Cuba who firmly believe that hip hop can change the world. These three inspirational leaders mobilize young people to become politically active. However as the stakes assume greater risks, the leaders are faced with challenges and have to make a life-altering decisions that ultimately impact the course of their lives and of the hip hop movement. Co-production of ITVS.  

 

 

If you are interested in booking a screening, workshop, or performance

please email us at info@estilohiphop.net

ANALYSIS ON THE 2009 TOUR DE FRANCE

THE AUDIO HERE!

[Web Special] Lance Armstrong vs His Own Team

By Ibrahim Abdul-Matin

Wednesday, July 15 2009

The Tour de France has 180 riders on 20 invited teams. The best team in the world is Asanta. In the current standings they have four of the top five riders. This would be like the best five averages in baseball coming from the same team, or the five fastest sprinters in the 100m dash in the Olympics all coming from the same country. This is called dominance.

To understand Tour de France team cycling, I turned to two expert sources. One is a guy who can fix any kind of car that exists in the world -- let's call him David. The other -- we'll call him Mike -- works on bikes at his shop "Bicycle Station" in Brooklyn. This should tell you something about who is paying attention to the Tour: hard-core biking junkies and gear heads – people who understand the grueling nature of the sport intimately. This seemingly individual sport requires a team-mindedness that individual cyclists may not anticipate.

Continue reading

Here's David-the-Mechanic's take: "Normally, the team dynamic is you have a designated team leader, and the rest of the riders are there to help him achieve the overall. They are free to go for stage wins, if their leader is not in trouble, and fight for the smaller prizes, such as the green or polka-dotted jerseys. But in the end they are there for the sole reason of supporting their leader. In the case of Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador, there is no clear designated leader, so it is up for grabs. You then risk splitting the team, and losing. Should be interesting.”

Ok, that made plenty of sense to me. Now here's more nuance, thanks to Mike-from-the-bike-shop: “Lance is living up to expectations. He’s got it down to a science. He’s the golden child, so his team has to do everything they can to protect, hold back riders, hold back the field, until he gets across. With another teammate in contention for the win, they take turns crossing the line. But they want Lance to be the overall winner."

But what if Contador or another member of Astana is actually a better rider this year? Why should they give it to Armstrong? “He put the work in," says Mike. "Winning, breaking records, records that will probably last a long time unless there is someone as superhuman as he is; he knows all the ins and outs. His approach to cycling is really scientific, he understands the dynamic of the road, the cornering…”

Then Mike got to the heart of the matter. Lance, he said, has "passion for the ride." And that's why he's poised to win his 8th Tour de France.

A Tree Uprooted by a Truck on Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn

Some things have happened just because they were simply meant to happen. Like running into a good friend on the subway in the evening yesterday, finding out we live close to one another. Or, taking an idea that was found in the middle of heated conversation, on the tail end of a long drive through the winding hills of northern California. Ideas that are as old as George Washington Carver. That’s right, I am talking about the original green peanut, what some folks know as a boiled peanut, and what has come to be understood as one of the staple foods of American advancement. Some things were just meant to happen.

I live in a city of nearly 8.5 million people. Populations estimates suggest that in the next 20 years, that number will increase by 30%. Most of that growth is going to be concentrated in my borough  this is clear to me – the challenge faced by all people in all times, the management of water, waste, watts, energy. travel and food define those civilizations. In some ways this is simply a economics discussion. we talk about resources, and the distribution of such. It is also about our vision.

The vision of one such as Mr. George Washington Carver is inspiring. Looking at a seed locked inside a fibrous shell he saw an array of uses – we must look similarly around us. We must have vision.

This brings me to a point, a central point, in this conversation. The things that are meant to happen and the things that we do as humans that are meant to happen. Our indelible imprint on the planet is clear: with a mandate to protect and to wisely use, we rape,. Pillage and destroy our very own planet – some people think that this is all part of a larger plan that we are not to blame for – that we cannot actually negatively nor positively affect our planet. I firmly disagree.

Look at this poor tree:

 

To be continued…

ps- check out info regarding this week's tour de queens, i took the photos at the end!

RECESS NYC

I asked on my FaceBook: If you can Understand something should you be able to teach it. And here were some of the responses that I received. I thought it was relevant enough to share and I would like to give the context where the conversation comes from. A discussion with some of whom I will describe as “the brothers” – who meet spontaneously on a corner in Bed-Stuy and discuss many things. You must be able to be cordial in disagreement and back up your positions with more than just emotion.

 

The responses are listed omitting their author.

 

 

• you need to teach your understanding. Just realize that your understanding is not the universal truth.

 

• Nope. One can understand something perfectly but still have a crappy way of articulating it. Whether its lack of patience or maybe not the right words to explain. Some folks just aren't meant to teach...but...I believe we can learn something from everyone, directly or indirectly. Sooooo....hmmmm...maybe :)

 

• but... i think we can't truly understand anything until we try to teach it. whether it is learned is another story :)

 

• not necessarily. but if you understand in a truly all encompassing way, sooner or later you'll hit upon a route for everyone~

 

• Nope

 

• i'm surrounded by non-examples of understanding = teaching...as I was often from 6th grade-12th...

 

• Don't get me started on this. I've spent years in graduate school trying to understand what makes a "good" teacher or one teacher "better" than others, never mind trying to determine this before you bring them on board. The conclusion I've come to is that a good teacher for some kids (adults?) isn't a good teacher for all. You have to be willing to... Read More live and breathe your craft, and your students, and the sad fact is that most just aren't. Understanding, to me, means nothing if you can't inspire others to care about what you know.

 

• There are a lot of things I understand that I don't want to teach.

 

• understanding is only the beginning. teaching allows others to understand, but it must come from an inherent desire from within. The teacher must be open to receive what his students have to offer. then you can fully understand, and master.

THIS WEEKEND!