Glocal.

"Think Global; Act Local. Glocal"


Gosh I love that phrase....even though the hybrid "Glocal" seems like a bit much.


I moved to Minneapolis in September 2009, and to be honest, I didn't really expect to like it. I mean, I grew up in a house in the country where we couldn't even SEE any houses from ours, I knew every one I graduated with, plus all of their families, and there wasn't even a single stoplight in my town. So, to move from the country to a dorm that held more people than the entire population of my town, was intimidating.


In the past year and a half I have grown to love Minneapolis. I love the energy that is in the city, the mix of cultures, the exchange of ideas and information. I love that you can go anywhere in Mpls and never be more than six blocks away from a park. I love the bike trails and the fact that Mpls is number one in bikers (...well, since I am bike-less I more so like the idea.) I love that I see such high interest in sustainability, eating organically and locally, and recycling. I love the music/galleries/theaters and all the outlets for artists' expressions. Gosh. I just have loved being in Mpls!


The beginning of spring break, I took a "trip" with some Navigators (the ministry team I'm involved with.) We decided to stay local this year to see how we could volunteer in our city. Best Spring Break Ever. Not only did I come to love my fellow Navigators a ridiculously lot more, but my heart for this city grew so much. It grew, but it also broke for Mpls. Gosh, I have always thought that I would like to travel to another country and work in an orphanage or something....which would be cool...but this spring break, my eyes were opened to the idea that the things we go far away to help with, are happening in OUR CITY. We helped renovate a building to house women getting out of prostitution and sex trafficking. (Did you know that the Mall of America is one of the biggest sites of sex trafficking in the U.S.? Crazy right?) We heard stories from people who are in Minnesota Teen Challenge's rehab program after their lives and relationships were broken on account of addictions. (They are looking for mentors, btw...) We helped at a food shelf that services people in South Minneapolis. (Hunger is not just a problem in third world countries.) These are all problems that are happening in OUR CITY. OUR STATE. What are we doing about them? What am I doing about them? Food for thought. Let me know what you think :)


City Vision: http://www.cityvisiontc.org/


SOURCE: http://www.sourcemn.org/WHAT_IS/index.htm


Breaking Free: http://www.breakingfree.net/


Community Emergency Services: http://www.cesmn.org/


Minnesota Teen Challenge: http://www.mntc.org/


The Navigators: http://www.uofmnnavs.com/


Feed My Starving Children: http://www.fmsc.org/