Huffington Post Blog #3
How Many Times Have You Heard This One?
Posted May 23, 2008 | 09:08 AM (EST)
This past January, I started my consulting business to support my passion and help keep the Foundation doors open. One of my current clients referred someone to me and said that she knew it was going to be a great fit. Today I had the fortunate opportunity to meet someone who shares similar passions in life. He started the Anbessa Foundation, an organization that helps the children in Ethiopia who battle with AIDS, while bringing the culture and music of Ethiopia to the youth of America.
Estaban walked into the cafe as I was telling the story of "Africa Jack." I saw his eyes light up as he asked the owner, "How much did you tell him?" She swore she only told me that he would be calling.
As I was walking home, I began to plan on how I was going to drop the news about my new project. I began consulting again to support the Africa Jack Foundation. I knew that realistically it didn't make sense or pay any of the bills, but neither did quitting my great paying job to build learning centers in Africa. I knew that the organizations' similar mission and shared visions and people involved outweighed any realistic explanation or excuse. "I have good news and bad news," I said to my partner. "I have decided to take on my last project that doesn't require a retainer."
It was a tough year. Although I had a pretty good cushion in the bank when I quit my job 17 months ago, I wasn't prepared for the financial struggles I faced this year. I know that I won't change the world or help every child affected by HIV/AIDS. There are way too many children who don't control that their parents die from AIDS. Their parents die because they don't have proper care or nutrition. Worse, they are never educated on preventing an infection because their governments or health institutions don't have the funds to spend.
We had a lot of friends tell us they would donate when the IRS gave us our 501(c)3. The promises were there, but the donations from our friends never came. I learned several things about myself, life and love this year. People (friends and family included) will let you down. After all, we are human. But as in business, how the relationship will recover will be defined by actions they make to rebuild it.
The other lesson was about love. I never thought that I would love someone because I truly didn't know what love meant to me. I can tell you that I know I am fortunate to tell people that I do have a partner who loves and supports me. I have told him on many occasions that he completes me and together we can change the world. He also now believes that changing the world can be an amazing experience because at the end of the day you know that you made a difference in someone's life.
That's what it's all about, right? My challenge to you is do something different - something you normally wouldn't have done that will make an impact on someone's life. I can tell you, it will change your life.
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Huffington Post Blog #2
Jack Miller| BIO | I'M A FAN OF THIS BLOGGER
A Cry For Help
Posted October 30, 2007 | 08:00 AM (EST)
I always thought that if people saw me break down, crying, or asking for help, that I was weak. I couldn't let people see how I was truly feeling. When people asked me how I was, my answer was always "GREAT!" Customers asking how my business was going always heard, "WOW! I couldn't have asked for it to be better!"
Many times I've wanted to tell people I was depressed. I was hurting and needed to talk to someone. I couldn't even show my best friend or partner my true feelings. But it was comforting knowing that if I cried - no matter where I was - someone would hear me.
Well, things have changed. I now know that everyone needs help. But who hears the crying?
Jack Miller at work.
I recently went through a really tough time. I was struggling professionally and personally. It just seemed that nothing was going right, and I didn't know what I was going to do. I was one day away from being like the people I avoided on the street and at intersections, the ones carrying signs that read "Will work for food."
I was working hard. How could I tell the children that I couldn't build their school because I couldn't even put food on my own table? I couldn't give up, but how close was I to holding a sign "HELP ME" because I hadn't eaten in two days?
I felt no one heard my cry. I was crying so hard it was difficult to face people. True friends could see it in my eyes, hear it in my voice and read it through my emails. They recognized it because many of them were also crying. They recognized the weight loss, but I told them it was all stress. They would smile, hug me and tell me to stick it out. Help was right around the corner.
Well, I don't know how to describe it, but I turned that corner. I rested and feel as though I've recovered. Life is better. There's food in my refrigerator. Gas in my truck. Life is picking back up.
This past weekend I had the pleasure of visiting a new friend. Bronson Gengezha is a Shona sculptor I'd met in Zimbabwe, and he'd come to Oakland. He was hosting a final art show before heading back home. Walking up to the exhibit and seeing him was a wonderful feeling. He looked healthy. Leah, another Oakland resident who had traveled to Zimbabwe at the same time, was standing next to him.
But when I saw Bronson's eyes, I almost cried. I saw it. "HELP ME, JACK." He eyes were screaming, asking me for help. I looked away. I focused on the warm feelings of reunion. I was there to see his sculptures. I was hoping to buy a few. I didn't have much money to spend, but I knew whatever I could afford would be appreciated. He could take it back home that night, and buy the supplies or food needed.
I asked how things were in Zimbabwe. "Hard," he replied. "Jack, it's very difficult. It's not a good situation." I asked if he was excited to get back and see his family. He smiled and said, "Yes, I miss them very much."
He's a very talented Shona stone sculptor. I'm continuously amazed at what that man can create with stone, chisel and file. I spoke with Leah about how we could promote his work on our site. It was the perfect avenue for informing people about the ongoing situation in the country once called "The Breadbasket of Africa."
Bronson Gengezha with his work.
Mike asked Bronson what he was going to do with the funds he received while here, asking him to paint a picture of life in Zimbabwe. What could he buy with the few hundred dollars he brought back with him?
I heard Bronson's answer later in the truck. I'm glad I did. Bronson said he would fly to another country so he could purchase food and other necessities, like wheat and floor, for his family. WHAT? I couldn't believe it.
At that point, I started weeping again. It reinforced in me the fact that sometimes no one hears our cries. Here's a man who came to the United States to sell the stone he sculpts. He travels far to sell his sculptures, and with that money he feeds his family. But he had to buy his provisions in yet another foreign country -- items we buy at the corner store.
When is crying adequate to receive much-needed help? How long can someone go on before they just can't weep anymore? I can't answer those questions. I don't know who can. What I do know is that our eyes have to be open and our vision clear, so when friends or people around us cry or reach out, we can do everything within our means to help.
For more information about the AfricaJack Foundation or to purchase a sculpture from Bronson Gengezha, please visit our website at Africajack.org.
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Huffington Post Blogs
I feel my story isn't different from anyone else that reads the Huffington Post. I get up everyday. I have a list of things to accomplish, tasks to complete, and overcome the stress of making things all work out. This story, as normal as I see it, still puts a grin on my face, goose bumps on my arms and tears in my eyes every time I share it.
Burn-out I had a great life. A job with a very nice salary, a downtown loft, Mercedes, Harley, an amazing partner even more talented than I could ever imagine, and the money to get what I wanted, when I wanted it.
I had a friend who had gone to Africa to volunteer at an AIDS orphanage in Zimbabwe. One day he called and said, "I'm in Denver. Meet me tonight for dinner. I will bring my laptop and I can show you the trip."
That night changed my life. I made a decision that I was going to go on the next trip to give a little to some kids that didn't have a whole lot. Was I in for a treat. I had no idea where that decision would take me.
Getting out Of Your Comfort Zone I didn't know exactly where Zimbabwe was located other than in the southern part of Africa. I knew nothing about their current dictator who is currently driving their inflation as high as 4700%. I didn't know that people made $50/month. I didn't know that the HIV infection rate was officially 28% (unofficially 35% the highest in Africa). I couldn't imagine a place where people couldn't get treatment because there wasn't enough medicine in the clinics. I thought the adult patients believe the adults who visited the clinic when they said they walked for two days just to get their medicine that we brought to them.
I wasn't even a fan of children. I have four nephews and always thought they were as close to kids that I would ever have or truly care about. But 55 days after creating the blog AfricaJack.org, I raised the $10,000 and the school was constructed. The children (33% of the 176 were HIV Positive and under 8) would have a place to learn skills they might not have ever learned. They could read books they wouldn't have read because there would have been no place to put them.
One night when I was walking around the orphanage, I looked up realizing that I was on a continent I NEVER thought I would ever visit. I was surrounded by children with whom I couldn't communicate. It was amazing. The children were full of joy. They had absolutely nothing. Well, they didn't have material possessions. Most of them were dropped off by a surviving father, who believed they were of no value to him because they weren't old enough to work. The majority of their infected mothers died aftering transmitting the HIV virus to them at birth. Nevertheless, they smile and laugh, just because. The amazing thing is that they know that everyone that goes and volunteers at their orphanage will love and care for them and won't ever hurt them.
Let The Work Begin I came back to the States with a new outlook on my life. I couldn't explain it, but I knew I had to do something in order to continue to make a difference -- even if it only meant helping only one child. My partner and I moved to the Bay area and began the process of forming the non-profit. Again, within 60 days of the application, we received notification from the IRS that we had received our tax-exempt status. We were officially a non-profit.
I can tell you why people don't do what I did all the time. It's been a really rough and bumpy road. There have been many days that I am so tired of doing without. I am tired of hearing my friends and family say, "Jack, what you are doing is admirable." I am tired of trying to think of ways to get people to give.
I can tell you I definitely can understand why some of my counterparts in corporate America said, "Keep your job and your position on the Board. Just give! It will make more of an impact." I can understand why they might say that, but I don't agree.
Who knows what is in our future. I know that I am looking at for-profit work to make some money to pay the bills and rent, put food in the refrigerator, and gas in the truck. I am selling the last few things that I own, clothes I don't wear, watches that have some significant value, and my Harley. I cashed in the last Roth-IRA just to make it one more month.
Why? I still can't tell you the answer. I can only tell you than I tear up thinking about not seeing those faces and hearing that laughter. I get sad knowing that I wouldn't be able to watch them learn in the school's classrooms that I helped fund through magical events and connecting the resources, knowledge and passion of the members of my support network which is filled with friends and family who love me.
Africa. Be careful if you go. You don't know what you will do when you get back. We're not all cut out for this type of work. I can only say, "Africa, thank you for the adjustment I made on my outlook before I had the pleasure of experiencing your beauty."
***** For more information about the AfricaJack Foundation or to make a secure online donation through our partner, Groundspring.org, visit our website at Africajack.org.