Intellectual Roundtable needs your help.
For more than a year, we have been publishing a new question every Sunday, designed to bring some quiet contemplation to your otherwise busy lives. As time goes on, the number of people visiting the site has been steadily decreasing. Fewer and fewer people are answering the questions, or are even being exposed to them.
We’re looking for ways to reverse this trend, and have more people read the questions, answer them, and interact with others doing the same.
Hence our question: How can you help? You might look through our list of past questions, find one that you like, and answer it. Maybe you can propose a question of your own using our online form. Perhaps you can share the blog on Facebook, via email, or other social media platforms via the icons on each page. Even if you don’t want to contribute to content in any way, you can provide some feedback about what does or doesn’t work for you with what we are doing and how we are doing it.
But there’s a second meaning to the question as well. In your life, there will always be people or causes that you care deeply about. Something may be a passion project for you or for your community. How can you bring attention to a cause, or take actual, concrete steps toward improving or enhancing something you care about? What are the ways you can strengthen bonds between you and loved ones?
How can you help?
Related questions: How can we turn ideas into actions? What are our responsibilities to others? What makes a community? How do you define success?
First, as part of the twosome that maintains this blog, I want to expand its reach. I offer three things that would greatly help in this regard. First, if you like a question, share it via your social media channels. That’s the dominant way we could increase this blog’s readership. Second, if you read Intellectual Roundtable regularly, become a subscriber. There’s a method to do so on the sidebar for the blog. And, third, if a question sparks some introspection on your part, share your thoughts regarding it. More comments will lead to more conversations, I think.
Now, regarding “How can I help?” in a broader sense …
My vocation is to work to end poverty. I have spent most of my adult life working in various capacities to prevent and end homelessness, build or preserve affordable housing, help renters know their rights, and, among other healthy food-related issues, to increase access to it for those currently in need. If you think my goals are too ambitious, ask me about how we can accomplish the larger goal, ending poverty. I would love to share my thoughts on how such an objective is possible.
But my vocation is just one thing I try to do to help make the world a better place.
Two other goals of mine have to do with mental illness. First, I want to reduce the stigma attached to mood disorders. And, second, by coming at it in several different ways, I want those experiencing mental health difficulties to know they are not alone. For more about my work in this regard, check out my blog, Prone to Hope.
I do at least a couple personal things to reduce my carbon footprint. The most obvious thing I do in this regard — other than not having children — is through the heirloom vegetable and flower garden I grow in my backyard. I grow without chemicals, thus providing healthy food for pollinators (e.g. bees, butterflies, and birds). And my garden produces a lot of food for Rebecca and me through the intensive companion planting methods I employ, thereby reducing what veggies we need from distant places.
On a smaller scale, I engage in other forms of advocacy and support candidates who I believe will uphold my values as they grapple with difficult political decisions.
And lastly, if so moved, I have been known to buy an Izzy’s ice cream cake for an organization that’s been doing exemplary work for justice.
Tomorrow night I’m attending a meeting at my church, Pax Christi, in Eden Prairie, to learn about and support a tenants organization in standing up for their rights. I trust that we will make a difference and help strengthen our community.
My daughter is helping an Afghani refugee family with young children move into an apartment in Chicago. If anyone reading this is interested in helping them out, please reply and I will let you know how you can help them.
Tomorrow I’m inviting the Justice Council at Pax Christi Catholic Community in Eden Prairie to consider becoming a Food Charter Champion, http://www.mnfoodcharter.com. It’s purpose is to enable people to work together to increase healthy food access for all.
Too many people in Minnesota are eating too much unhealthy food or are experiencing food insecurity and going hungry. I’ve never had to go hungry, and when I think there are children in Minnesota going hungry I want to do something about it. I hope you do also.
Too many people in Minnesota are eating too much unhealthy food or are experiencing food insecurity and going hungry. I’ve never had to go hungry, and when I think there are children in Minnesota going hungry I want to do something about it. I hope you do also.
Tomorrow I’m inviting the Justice Council at Pax Christi Catholic Community in Eden Prairie to consider becoming a Food Charter Champion, http://www.mnfoodcharter.com. It’s purpose is to enable people to work together to increase healthy food access for all.