The Power to Make a Difference

How can we break the cycle of poverty for millions of at-risk youth in America?

Better Education? Sports? After School Programs? Parents that are involved in their child’s education and engagement in school?

All of these answers may be a part of the solution. However, they often have left me feeling that my ability to make a difference, the only way to help, was to give back by standing in a picket line or writing my congressman as one small voice in a large and daunting process to change policy.

However, many studies have shown that having a single tutor or mentor for an extended period of time can improve chances for at-risk youth to attend college, become gainfully employed and escape the cycle of poverty.

Armed with the renewed faith that I could make a difference in one young person’s life by simply spending a couple of hours each week with them, I became a tutor/mentor at Cabrini Connections, and organization that has been connecting local Chicago adults and leaders with high-risk, low-income teenagers for over 35 years. They strive to empower and encourage young adults to follow life-changing solutions through the time, effort and contribution of adult volunteers.
When I first met Shaquille, I was excited. He was a charismatic, outspoken 16 year-old. He loved music, had taught himself Final Cut Express (a student version of Apple’s highly lauded editing program utilized by many major motion pictures) to make music videos of his hip-hop group, and was a talented basketball player.
Being a teenager offers many hard choices regardless of race, class and environment. The difficulty of the myriad of choices can often be accentuated when the realities of a single parent household, socio-economic factors and being a young black man in a segregated city come into play. Such is the case with Shaquille. Although, he is a bright and talented student, Shaquille’s grades were less than adequate in his first semester working with me as a tutor. Primarily because of a school policy that penalizes children for tardiness and equates 4 tardys to one cut and four cuts to a failing grade.

Despite my weekly tutoring and mentoring sessions with Shaquille, he finished is fall semester with two Ds and an F. I knew that if his grades continued to suffer that despite his many talents and intelligence, the window of opportunity to attend college would quickly be closed to him. Further, many of Shaquille’s friends were pursuing high-risk paths that could eventually lead to jail, expulsion from school or even worse for a young black man in Chicago.
So this semester, I decided that it was time to “step up my game” with Shaquille and give him an opportunity to participate in what I called a “mastery training.” I was going to offer him a chance to interact with me not as his tutor but as an apprentice, to learn many of the life skills and disciplined work habits that carried me to graduating Phi Beta Kappa in Economics from U.C. Davis and have propelled me to a successful career building several multi-million dollar companies as an entrepreneur.

I wasn’t sure how he would respond and wanted to avoid the trap of telling him what he “needed” to do or “forcing him to do it.” It was crucial to me, that he “opted in” to the next phase of his training. So I chose attendance to a Bulls game, as the time I was going to give him this opportunity, since he is a talented basketball player, and the backdrop of a storied franchise like the Bulls would allow me plenty of examples of those who had taken the path to mastery, while their peers had taken a road to mediocrity or worse.

We discussed the idea of mastery, and what it takes to actually become a master at something. We talked about the benefits of becoming a master and he discussed his dreams, goals and aspirations. I quoted the book, Outliers, where author Malcolm Gladwell argues the point that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become a master in whatever you choose.
Through a process of questions and examination, Shaquille was able to come to the conclusion on his own that it would take about 10 years, with 3-4 hours per day of practice to become a master. It was a perfect discussion when, at halftime, a master hypnotherapist came out to work his magic. We examined his options for mastery from “hanging out with girls” to “film/video editing and production, to basketball, to music. I was often tempted to give my advice about what “I thought” he “should do,” but remembered my commitment that it must be his decision. He had to “opt in” in order for this next phase of our relationship to truly be worthwhile.
For the rest of the game, we continued to bring our attention to the mastery we saw around us, Michael Jordan’s jersey, six world championship banners, his favorite Bulls players. As we left the game, Shaquille’s excitement seemed to be increasing, the tempo and intensity of his voice raised, he shot jumpers in the air and talked about all the things he wanted to master, or at least was excited about mastering. As we pulled up to his house, I found myself filled with the hope of possibility for him and also the fear that he may simply not willing into take on the responsibility of entering into the next phase of his training. As I shared with him that our relationship was going to change somewhat, that if he wanted to step into an apprenticeship of mastery, that certain things like, non-responses to my communications would no longer be acceptable and at he may not like me in certain instances because I would be more committed to his success than his feelings, just like my mentors had done for me.
As we stopped in front of the gate of his mother’s apartment complex, I finally asked him “Are you ready to enter the next phase of your training?” “Do you want me to support you in becoming a master?”
After a long pause, he broke out into a broad smile and said “Yeah, I’m ready, let’s do this.” With that, we shook hands and began his long road of training towards mastery. I am hopeful this next step will help him to not just step out of the cycle of poverty, but will assist him in the achievement of his dreams and aspirations.

Nevertheless, I don’t actually know how Shaquille’s story will end. Whether he will endure the trials and tribulations that are sure to come his way; whether he will continue to choose this path when all signals tell him to quit and all hope seems lost. But I do know that he has, at 16 years old, make a conscious choice, a choice of more responsibility, a choice to embark on the road less traveled, a road that will hopefully lead him to mastery.

Michael Alexander

Easy Green Resolutions for 2010

Now that “green” has gone mainstream, we all know the importance of living in a more environmentally friendly way. Nevertheless, if you have yet to take a first step, making a big lifestyle change may still seem a little daunting. To get you started, here are 10 easy resolutions you can make this year to go green and reduce your carbon footprint, save money, and improve your health in 2010.

1. Recycle. Unless a product is biodegradable, throwing it “away” means it goes to a planet-polluting landfill. Don’t toss your trash: reduce, reuse and recycle it wherever you can.

2. Switch to C.F.L.s (Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs). Lower your carbon footprint by swapping out incandescent bulbs with CFLs. They use up to 75% less energy and last ten times longer—and can help you save about $30 off your utility bill over the life of each bulb.

3. Eliminate Energy Vampires. Most energy drained from your home comes from electronic appliances you aren’t using like TVs, computers and cell phone chargers. Unplug or turn off appliances when not in use for one hour, or plug into a power strip and hit the “off” switch.

4. Upgrade Your Appliances. Appliances account for 20 percent of home energy use! When old appliances give out, replace them with energy-efficient, Energy Star-certified models, which use 10-50% less energy and water and can reduce your utility bill.

5. Detox Your Home. Most homes contain dozens of hidden hazardous toxins. The biggest culprits are traditional cleaning products, which contain toxic chemicals that pose serious health risks. Protect yourself and the environment by choosing natural, organic and biodegradable cleaning and personal care products.

6. Say Goodbye to Plastic. Due to global warming and pollution, access to clean, fresh water is quickly diminishing. Cut water waste by turning off the faucet when not in use (including when brushing teeth!), and replace faucets and showerheads with low-flow alternatives.

7. Eat More Veggies. The meat industry wastes millions of tons of water, land and natural resources annually and is our planet’s largest industrial polluter. A meat diet requires 4,000+ gallons of water per day: By comparison, a vegetarian diet requires just 300 gallons. Go green and improve your health by eating less meat and eating local, organic fruits and veggies. You'll reduce your carbon footprint by nearly 15%!

8. Wear Eco-Chic Clothing. It takes 1/3 lb. of harmful pesticides to make one traditional cotton shirt. Instead, wear clothing made from sustainable, renewable fabrics like bamboo, hemp or organic cotton, or go vintage by shopping at thrift stores.

9. Green Your Commute. Cut down on greenhouse gas-causing C02 emissions by driving a fuel-efficient vehicle. Not ready to trade your car in for a hybrid? Walk, bike, carpool or take public transportation instead of driving.

10. Take Baby Steps. If overhauling your life to “go green” feels overwhelming, determine what level of green works best for your current lifestyle. Then, resolve to make one change you can commit to for 2010. Even the smallest change can make a huge difference. Here’s to a greener New Year!


Bianca Alexander is a green lifestyle expert and correspondent for Conscious Living TV and Soul of Green. Watch Bianca present a few of these tips live on WGN by clicking here: http://www.wgntv.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=18305a0c-0369-4e84-9596-c0a35f12f99c&src=front.

Or, for more tips and to stay up to date on our latest episodes, visit www.ConsciousLivingTV.com and www.SoulofGreen.com, become a fan, and sign up for our e-list!

Eco-Sexy Mineral Makeup: Stript Cosmetics

By Morgan Greenwald and Bianca Alexander


When it comes to wearing make-up, why be eco-friendly when you can be “eco-sexy?” This is the mantra of Gina Austin, founder and Creative Director of Stript Makeup, a line of vegan, paraben-free mineral cosmetics that is taking the concept of natural beauty and mineral make-up to another level.

Through a variety of environmentally conscious practices, Stript commits itself “to the individual, to the community and to the world.” Stript consists of talc-free natural minerals and natural preservatives such as Naticide (which is derived from almonds) and Japanese honeysuckle. In addition to abstaining from animal testing, Stript also sells vegan and animal fur-free applicator brushes, 10% of the proceeds from which are donated to ASPCA. Stript even excels when it comes to packaging: its cosmetics are sold in recyclable plastic containers and post-consumer unit cartons printed with soy ink. All packing materials are biodegradable. Even the brushes are eco-friendly: sustainably forested trees supply the wooden handles for all of Stript’s applicators.

With its range of vibrant, highly-pigmented colors, Stript stands out from the pack of dozens of mineral cosmetics lines currently in the marketplace. Stript’s crushed mineral eye shadows, which come in colors like Venus, a turquoise blue, and Skye, a dramatic metallic gray, can be applied either wet or dry to convey various tones and shades, and are perfect for darker-skinned complexions or those wanting the option of more coverage. Stript also has a one-of-a-kind lipstick liner crayon that does the work of both lipstick and liner and contains hints of vanilla extract and almond. Its marine-based mineral foundations are made with vitamins A, C, E, and B, and create an emphasis on light diffusion and flawless, adaptable coverage. Stript’s mineral blushes feature antioxidants and amino acids that moisturize, nourish, and protect the skin. Although make-up free is the only way to go completely "natural", with Stript cosmetics, your skin will be healthy, radiant, and flawless--keeping you, and the planet sexier than ever!

You can see Stript make-up in action on Conscious Living’s host, Bianca Alexander, at www.ConsciousLivingTV.com. To learn more about Stript or review or purchase their cosmetic line of products, visit www.striptmakeup.com. For more tips on natural beauty, style and cosmetics, visit the Conscious Living TV beauty page.

Conscious Living TV Covers Carrotmob Chicago!

Want to put your spending dollars toward greening your community? Recently, Conscious Living and hundreds of Chicagoans did just that by shopping at the gourmet food store Fox & Obel! Fox and Obel was host to the Carrotmob, an organization of individuals who create excitement around a particular business in order to increase that business’ profits for one day. Proceeds of the profits from that day go toward making the business more energy efficient.

Any Carrotmob event can be thought of as a reverse boycott: Carrotmobbers take to the streets outside their chosen business and encourage pedestrians to shop at the business. With the aid of signs, t-shirts, coupons and—in the case of the Fox & Obel event—a massive, papier-mâché carrot, Carrotmobbers make their business of choice the place to be.

Fox & Obel will allocate fifty percent of its proceeds on the day of the Carrotmob to making the store more energy efficient. The store’s priority is to replace its current lighting with LED lighting. With the event bringing in $4,300, Fox & Obel now has $2,150 it can now use toward energy efficiency.

To learn more about the Carrotmob and learn about upcoming Carrotmob events in your area, go to www.carrotmob.org. For our coverage on the event, check out the Food page of Conscious Living TV!

Visionary Mobile Eco-Chic Boutique

When fashonista entrepreneur Magda Rod opened her eco-chic Visionary Boutique on trendy Melrose in 2007, she envisioned a space where she could offer customers a taste of environmental and social consciousness without having to sacrifice quality or style. After doing just that, when the recession hit she moved her store (now located on Pico) and gave it a second life with the Visionary Mobile Boutique. Housed in this green-retrofitted 1966 Airstream trailer, it offers some of the best eco-lifestyle brands on the go, including Linda Loudermilk, Kailia Footwear and Jane Iredale cosmetics. This summer, we stopped by her new mobile pad at Malibu's eco-friendly BuFest and picked up one of her custom Ecousable water bottles and a sexy charm bracelet from her inspirational jewelry line. Keep up the great work, Magda!

Community Village Building: Blacks in Green

With global warming, access to fresh, healthy food and economic disempowerment ravaging our communities, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the problems that face us. Thankfully, organizations like Blacks in Green (B.I.G.), a Chicago-based community education and trade organization founded by Naomi Davis, are digging deep for lasting solutions that will save our planet and our neighborhoods.

Born in Chicago on Earth Day 2007, B.I.G. aims to empower the African American community by incorporating green job skills into its education program in order to expand employment opportunities for this historically marginalized community. Through this education program, Blacks In Green seeks to create and sustain environmentally conscious neighbor-owned businesses in black communities throughout the country, and inspire these communities towards social, psychological and economic empowerment through the burgeoning green economy.

In order to create these “self-sustaining African diaspora communities,” B.I.G. sets forth eight founding principles for building green villages. First, each village should have its own measures, exchanges, and sources of wealth. Second, each village must locally produce energy for personal and public uses. Next, basic goods and services are supplied and recycled within the village. Each village will also provide low-income housing and green gardens that produce high quality food. Within the village, neighbors will celebrate their shared heritage through both news and entertainment. Each village will have interdependent local ties and perceptible borders. Village hubs will be epicenters for green training, development, and lifestyle transformation. Lastly, neighbor-owned businesses invent, invest, manufacture, and merchandise locally in order to circulate wealth throughout the community.

B.I.G. founder Naomi Davis cites her own childhood in the sixties and her legacy as the granddaughter of Mississippi sharecroppers as sources of inspiration for Blacks In Green. For Davis, the notion of green villages is a modern twist on the family farm. Rather than leaving land stewardship as a figment of the past, Davis sees green villages as a way to push the African American community forward.

To keep the community connected and informed, B.I.G. hosts numerous educational and networking events throughout the year. The third Friday of each month on the traditionally African-American South side of Chicago, it holds Environmental Education Afternoon Workshops and Evening Programs for both youth and adult members. Each Third Friday program features a different environmental theme, such as water use, renewable energy, green media, and environmental legislation. Blacks In Green’s next Third Friday event will be held on August 21, 2009, and will address green communication media and introduce the organization’s weekly media roundtable.

To learn more about Blacks In Green, check out their website and events page at www.blacksingreen.org.

Eco-Fashion That Gives Back: Do-Ni Shoes

Before you run to the mall for a new pair of flats that was more than likely sewn by child laborers in a third world country, think about ordering a pair of Do-Ni shoes. Designed by Nancy Dong of Kailia Shoes and Carlotta Fiorini, Do-Ni is a vegan footwear company that aims to “create great looking shoes that are eco-friendly and help those without a voice.”

The Nobilia ballerina slippers from Do-Ni’s 2009 collection put that very promise into action. Using only non-animal materials, European artisans handcraft these slippers and add ribbons and embroidery for adornment with the aid of water-based glues. Although the shoes are leather-free, they provide the same comfort provided by leather shoes and come unlined with a padded insole. Do-Ni’s artisans also maintain the company’s environmentally friendly practices through the use of pre-consumer recycled components.

Do-Ni’s efforts to make this world a better place do not stop with the ecological construction of its shoes. Italian for “gift,” Do-Ni joins forces with six non-profit organizations that receive 100% of its retail profits. These NPOs include Animal Acres (a farmed animal sanctuary that promotes kind living and participates in rescue and refuge efforts), Four Legged Friends Foundation (an organization that helps needy families pay their veterinary bills), Go Vegan with Bob Linden (a radio program dedicated to animal-liberation and vegan education), Medicines Global (an organization of adventure travelers who donate basic first aid supplies to the destinations), Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (an organization that promotes compassionate medical research and practice), and A Home Away From Homelessness (an organization that seeks to meet the needs of homeless children in shelter programs). Each customer may choose which beneficiary receives the profits of their purchase.

The shoes themselves come in the following colors: champagne, a satiny gray; grass an olive green; amethyst, a deep purple; ruby a rich red; and black. Above the toe, each shoe features a knotted, matching ribbon. The champagne and black styles are also available with a crystal medallion cinching the middle of the ribbon for a dressier look.

We at Conscious Living are huge fans of Do-Ni shoes (Bianca loves them!) and believe fully in their ecological and social mission. To check out these sustainable and beautiful shoes and learn more about Do-Ni and its founders, visit http://www.do-ni.com/main.html. Or, to see co-founder Nancy Dong’s Kailia shoes in action, watch our “Chicago Eco-Fashion Cafe” or “Winter Fashion on the National Mall” episodes on the www.ConsciousLivingTV.com style page.