Project Proposal: Arc

     Service learning projects are something that everyone should get involved in because it allows you to become active in the community and become a leader. For my service learning project I'm focusing of the Arc of the Ozarks. Arc of the Ozarks in an organization that is spread out over the Southwest Missouri area. The Arc is a place for people with any sort of mental or physical disability to be able to come and have a normal life and live just like everyone else. They help those with disabilities find jobs and make money while still contributing to the community.

     I really want to get involved in trying to find a way to help the Arc with safety issues and also activities for the kids to get involved in. I still need to do more research about the Arc and things that they could get help with, but that is my focus for this project.

     Children with disabilities is what I want to completely have my focus on. Seeing the kids have such a positive out look on life and live without even thinking they are any different gives me so much hope and joy! Those kids have to get through so many obstacles every single day and they keep a smile on their faces all the time. I find it incredible and so inspiring. I'm excited to start seeing how to make a difference with these kids and finding minor or even large issues at the Arc that action can be taken to. 

 Here is a link to the ARC.

60 Minutes: Amazing Kids

     The 60 Minutes video was really inspirational. Seeing that a 15 year old freshman boy can use his gifts to find a way to detect pancreatic cancer should inspire everyone to think about using their own gifts to do something good for the world, or even just the community. Jack was able to start his research in a local lab after presenting his work to a biologist. Then he went on to win a national competition, winning awards and money to further his research. Now he is going and speaking at medical conferences and making a difference in the world...all by just following a theory and doing what he loves. If we all put this much work into our daily lives our world would be so much better. You don't have to be incredibly brilliant either...you just have to do something you love to make a difference.
      I have a passion for helping people. I tend to be drawn towards people with need, and I always try to do all that I can to be able to help. That's why I love being able to volunteer at the Arc of the Ozarks. The people there aren't capable of doing things on their own. Their physical and mental disabilities hold them back from things that they love and want to do. So why not take my time to give back and help them achieve the things that they love? It's not hard to take time out of my day to do something I love, and the satisfaction that I get from being able to see the smiles on their faces makes it all worth while. I've always been a really busy person and have a lot going on, but when you think about what is truly important...you should always realize that others should come before yourself.

TOMS: Making a Difference

     Blake Mycoskie started a trend that cannot be broken. He began the era of giving back through entrepreneurship. Some of the winners of the TOMS competition. One of the first ones that I read was called Good Spread Peanut Butter. Their idea was to sell all-natural peanut butter and use the profits to go completely towards buying therapeutic foods and giving them to children suffering from malnutrition. They call their product "Good Spread". Their goal is to eradicate extreme hunger and too make a difference in the world. Kids that suffer from malnutrition are at higher risk of dying than children with AIDS, TB and Malaria combined. I think that Good Spread Peanut Butter is a small step, but a large enough step to make a difference in the world.
     Another winner that I read about was called "Good Travel". They are promoting the ability to travel and to give back to the places they stay and the people they encounter. They have set up a website and an App that enables you to follow them and make good traveling choices. I find this one a little more confusing, but i can kind of see the concept of it. I think its a great idea because almost everyone has dreams to travel or to make a difference, and to be able to mix the two makes things more attractive to people.
     The last winner that I read was called "Art to Aid". Art to Aid is all about being creative and putting your work out in the world for people to see because "everyone creates". Art to Aid is an online marketplace where people can buy and sell their own art! Their goal is to create more consumerism and make a flow of arts and creative thinking out into the world. I think this is a great idea because consumerism is a very important thing. It is was allows our economy to keep flowing smoothly and productively. I feel like there are a lot of things kind of this this out in the world already, but not necessarily focused specifically on arts.