Cool Motown Mark

The Convention & Visitors Bureau for Detroit (one of my many former employers) came out with a new logo today. I like it! I just hope Denver doesn't start calling itself the "D."

Ni hao ma

Each and every Wednesday night in the basement of the International Institute, a tiny group of hardworking women are in pursuit of the holy grail...an understanding of Mandarin. Shu Fen (our teacher) is the most patient woman on the planet. No matter how badly we botch up the words, she always tells us "good job." In addition to having a few laughs, it is interesting to learn why each woman (or teen) is pursuing the difficult, difficult language. One hopes to move forward in her job, another wants to be a foreign exchange student, another wants to move there and another deals with a lot of Chinese suppliers. Wish us luck!

Good Things

I usually spend my time helping automakers, retailers, lawyers and bankers improve their image. Today, though, I'm working on two very different and very important projects.

Mason Elementary is one of 52 schools in the Detroit Public School system that is slated to close. The city's declining population and tax base just can't support all these buildings. A good friend is working with Mason on a stellar reading program for second graders that has proven to improve reading and vocabulary scores by 100%. They provide teachers and set up a way cool environment that motivates the kids to want to read. If the school closes, so does the program. Sadly, the same program was first installed at another elementary that closed a few years back and moved to Mason. I'm trying to stir up some media attention so that perhaps the school won't close.

The other just makes great sense. The WARM Training Center works to educate people about the importance of green building. They have a new study out that proves that by building new homes to Energy Star standards, homeowners saved 52% in heating costs over traditional construction. There's a big story coming out in the Freep on Sunday and I'm working to get their Green Programs Manager some radio and TV gigs.

Indian Giver

I borrowed back the Christmas present I gave my Mom so I could show it off to my pals at my CCS weaving class today. It gave me a chance to take a picture too before I returned it to my Mom. I dyed the yarn using a Picasso picture as the inspiration for the colors. I started a new project today...I'm going to weave a piece and then burn out certain areas of the weaving with a stencil and a Fiber Etch product. How scary is that?

PR people make great friends

I helped organize a Solo Practioner event last night at the Courtyard Marriott for PRSA Detroit. It was our first partnership with BPRS, the Black PR Society. There sure are some wonderful people in this town. Had a chance to chat with some good friends who I haven't seen in awhile. I got involved with PRSA when I was still at CMU and have been a member now for nearly 25 years. (Man I'm old!) You join these groups because it seems like the right thing to do, but that organization has been so much more than that. They've been a lifeline when I've ever had a question, needed a job, or simply wanted to laugh with someone who understands this weird, weird world.

Keep Nancy Skidmore's husband, Jerry, in your prayers. He is recovering from open heart surgery.

Went to Mandarin class with Hannah after the meeting. I sure have a lot to learn before we leave in June. Hannah seems to be picking it up a lot more than me, especially the tones you need to use to differentiate each word.

Weaving Starts on Saturday!

I'm signed up again for the CCS weaving class. I think I've taken this class at least six times now. With so many details regarding China pending, I probably shouldn't do it but what the heck! I really enjoy the weaving and the people. It still is the cheapest form of mental therapy around. I'm not crafty at all but I really get into planning the piece and then seeing it come to reality. So if Molly (our wonderful teacher) can put up with me for one more term, I'm there! I wonder what I'll make this semester?? I'm thinking about a wall hanging.

I'm looking for an 8-harness Mighty Wolf loom to take to Shanghai so I can keep my addiction going.

I Have A Dream

I am so proud of the kids. J is going with the kids from Cass to a Proposal 2/Affirmative Action rally at U of M tomorrow. He has a day off of school and he's going to spend it fighting for something he has been researching and believes strongly. What an awesome way to spend Martin Luther King Day. H is doing something similiar. She is going with her best buddy Taylor to a MLK event at Campus Martius downtown and then over to the Pistons game. We had always hoped that living in the city would make the kids appreciate all walks of life. They really do....which makes me happy. I think Martin would smile at them too.