SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO FEED THE HUNGRY AND WORK FOR PEACE

Wednesday, April 30th, a group of Daytona friends and I went to participate in feeding hungry citizens of Orlando, Florida. With us we brought donations which were instantly consumed by hungry hands. People gathered around Lake Eola around 5:00pm in search of a promised "free" meal. Shortly after we arrived, vans and trucks showed up with a dozen volunteers unloading cloathing, books, and Vegan prepared meals. They set up stands and served anyone who was hungry. The ages of volunteers and people in search of food ranged from 16 to 60. Here are a few photos documenting the weekly mission.


A sign found along the path of Lake Eola.

An Orlando resident since 1985 participates nearly every week, and he states, "They think that by cutting off services we're going to go away and we're not."



Quite the turn-out in my opinion. Souls in search of a little peace in their day. A warm, free meal, a possibility of interview-appropriate articles of clothing, and a good read for the mind to escape the warn souls of their society...or to possibly educate.

"Orlando Food Not Bombs shares vegan and vegetarian food with hungry people in the Orlando area. Some are homeless while others are the working poor who have homes but whose labor doesn't provide them with enough to enjoy a basic standard of living. Ours is the richest and most wasteful society on Earth, and we prepare our meals using some of the vast amounts of perfectly edible food that otherwise would go to waste." - orlandofoodnotbombs.org

A Dirt City dweller enjoying some Vegan Lentil Stew after assisting with serving the hungry individuals. A Vegan meal consists of only soil-born food products that contain no animal bi-products.

Seeing all of these bikes being utilized really left an impact on me. If our generation can see that there's something wrong with the way we rely on automobiles due to their convenient nature, and actually attempt to make a difference, then maybe there is more hope after all. An orlando friend says "I do as well love seeing all of those bikes because I look at cycling as a backbone to a political crisis were having within transportation issues." And that mindset is the reason I am hoping one day all of this will be revolutionary beyond our wildest dreams. God, we all know that something has to change soon. Let's start now.






Chris Fields began volunteering because she was "upset that the city of Orlando was trying to make it illegal for people to do what they feel like they should do from their inner-being". She stated, "I should be able to share a sandwich or Twenty-Five sandwiches, or a Hundred sandwiches if I see that someone is hungry."

As I understand, the ordinance that Orlando passed makes it illegal for any individual or group to serve more than 25 people in a public park within 2 miles or a mile of City Hall.

I spoke with another volunteer named Adam who informed me that the Orlando FoodNotBombs chapter began in January 2005. A couple months ago they started serving breakfasts on Monday mornings at 8:30. In his neighborhood, where alot of the volunteers reside, they recently started a free produce distribution stand as well.

I asked Adam to give me a little more insight on what they are trying to achieve through these efforts...
WHAT IS FOOD NOT BOMBS?
"An international movement against violence and hunger. There are chapters all over the world in places such as Nigeria, SouthAmerica, Russia, and Europe. All organizes under the principles of using food that would otherwise be wasted and vegetarian food and just giving it away for free to anybody. So, we're kind of like just one part of a global movement. It's not an organization, it's more of a movement. People just start their own chapters."
"I see this as building an alternative to the mainstream capitalist economy and kind of underminding it and creating an alternative to the current system; creating a better system...putting it out to people so they can see it as the good idea we see and hopefully adopt it. The idea is that if people get food for free, they won't have to go out and buy it and it just underminds the whole "for-profit economy". And we hope to branch out to other things so people can get things like free daycare. It's like building a new infrastructure for a new way of living."
"Poverty causes homelessness, not food. If businesses won't put the food to good use then we will go out and physically intercept it and make sure it gets put to use; if they wont do it we will. It's a direct action against waste of food. Half the food produced in the United States gets thrown away, so how anyone can possibly go hungry when there is so much food being thrown away is mind boggling."
Adam, an Orlando Food Not Bombs volunteer

Enabler? A man who gives his entire life to his country, claims that by supporting such movements and compassionate efforts such as Food Not Bombs, I am in fact an enabler. What is so enabling about wanting to assist efforts against homelessness and violence? How can I be enabling anyone any more than our own government and today's society has done and continues to do on a daily basis? Healthcare is denied for it is a luxury, not a right. If someone is in the position to give, why should anyone object? I was always taught that if you see someone down, that's the time to pick them up...set our differences aside and we will never look back.


For more information on Orlando Food Not Bombs visit http://orlandofoodnotbombs.org/
Orlando FoodNotBombs is always looking for volunteers and donations.

Firecracker Clean Up - Saturday July 5th

Interview w/ Jewelist and Artist: Maleah Duncan

I love interviews like this: positive, ACTIVE, role models; we need more of them, especially for girls! Graceful, real, self-seeking, helper, free-spirited, wife, and obviously creative, these are the words that come to mind when thinking of Maleah’s demeanor and creations, without having met her personally. Well, we did once at art café in Cocoa, and didn’t know it at the time. I have heard lots of good things about her, from the jewelry and paintings, to the lifestyle she leads with her husband, Matt. She calls her work, “Maleah by the Sea”.
~ Morgan McDole


"I love to surf, ride my bike super fast, play in my garden, paint cool stuff, garage sale, laugh like crazy, dream, pursue God's Kingdom here on earth and share what that is all about. Share my story with people, so they can see how real God is, and how He takes us through life's hardest challenges hand in hand."~ Maleah Duncan






Interview w/ Maleah Duncan: Owner/ Creator of “Maleah by the Sea”- Click Heading to see more of her work.

Where did you grow up, where do you live now?
I grew up in Lakeland, to San Diego, to Asheville, to the Outer Banks and now I am back living in Florida, St. Augustine that is.

DCZ: What is the name of your company?
Maleah Duncan: “Maleah by the Sea”

DCZ: How long have you been painting and making jewelry?
Maleah: I have been painting since college and doing jewelry for about 3 years. These young, local North Shore girls got me into it. I started making earrings for me to wear, and then after enough requests, I began getting accounts to sell them.

DCZ: What got you started?
Maleah: I love to make things with my hands, design with bold colors and new creations. Playing around is what got me started. The same is with painting or distressing furniture, taking something and making something totally new out of it. I love the process and seeing the finished product. It is what gives me that satisfaction inside through creativity.


DCZ:What else are you into?
Maleah: I am into traveling...I am heading to Nicaragua in a month to visit a whole bunch of friends who are heading there at the same time. It is a gift from my husband since I am turning 30 in July....that is crazy!!! I love to surf, ride my bike super fast, play in my garden, paint cool stuff, garage sale, laugh like crazy, dream, pursue God's Kingdom here on earth and share what that is all about. Share my story with people, so they can see how real God is, and how He takes us through life's hardest challenges hand in hand.

DCZ: Who or what inspires your work?
Maleah: Creation inspires my work. All that God already made and we get to enjoy. I love His color pallete.. i am just an ol' copy cat!! he he he

DCZ: Is there a purpose behind your work, something that drives you? Maleah: My purpose in everything when I am really living through my giftings, is to bring GOD glory...so people can see Him in me. I, on my own, am lame and rude but when I am living for Him love somehow comes out of me. I am so much cooler in Him.

DCZ: If you had a piece of advice for an artist who was going to try and make a living off their work, what would you say?
Maleah: Be helpful to other artists, try to push others along, make good lasting connections, and be generous. In the beginning, you can't expect to make high dollar on your work. Get involved in charity or auctions that have a good cause behind them. Let people see you connected with helping others and using your gifts for greater purposes. Give and you will always get back MORE!! You will also get attention and people will see your work out there. It's a great way to start.

DCZ: How much does what’s going on in your life reflect in your work?
Maleah: Tons! When I am full of new experiences and adventure then I am motivated to work through those avenues. If I am going through hard times, I am not into my art but distracted. I think I need to push out of some of those ruts that I can fall into and just do my art no matter what and see what comes from some of those less blissful places. I tend to put it on the shelf but hopefully that will change:)

DCZ: Name one experience in your life that has played a major part in who you are today?
Maleah: Through some really hard circumstances that I have been through in my life, I have gotten really low and depressed. Hopeless is a good word for it. I have broken and crumbled and had to choose hope, joy, faith and will power to pull myself out. That isn't an easy place to climb out of, but it has made me realize that my only hope is Jesus. Who He says I am, my identity, purpose and choosing to live from Heaven to Earth has given me a new call towards destiny. I want to share all about our high calling and the passion of living in this life. It is so great and God is so good!

DCZ: Name one experience in your life that has played a major part in how you think today?
Maleah: My dad's suicide three years ago. When the reality of brokenness is in your face, and you see that there is a darkness in this world that wants to kill and steal your soul, then you realize that you only have one choice in this world to fight or to give up. Life isn't to be lived rolling along in complacency and mediocrity. Nothing satisfies. New clothes are great for a few days, a new car for a month or two, a good meal for an hour, a new boyfriend for a season.…we always think this or that is going to make us truely happy and satisfied, but only God gives fulfillment and makes your longing soul to find its rest. That is what I have learned, and I am thankful that God knows how much we can handle. He obviously knew that I could handle this, and would grow from it. God didn't say it would be easy but He did say that he would never leave us or forget us.


DCZ: Describe yourself.
Maleah: I am a goofy girl, love to make people laugh, sometimes too serious and a perfectionist (this annoys me!), I fear to fail but realize that is just lame and won't do me good, I love doing spontaneous things, camping out, motivation people to pursue new things....I was always called the "Pied Piper" growing up by my mom. I am pretty easy going and love going hard at things.

DCZ: What is it about what you do that you think feeds your soul?
Maleah: Just doing what I love to do, taking care of my husband and my home, reading books that stretch my mind and actions, surfing and taking long walks.

DCZ: Talk about the married life?
Maleah: It was a tough start but it really brought me to my knees and made me realize that taking captive of negative thoughts isn't just a quote it is serious business. Our mind affects our actions. So I just continue to live in thankfulness that my husband is a good man, respectful, honors me and shows me love through his actions. Keeping my mind on positive things and thinking the best of him, helps me to live honorably for him. Putting God first in our marriage/friendship and praying together is an important asset. Growing to fulfill our destiny, together, is something that keeps us totally connected and fueled. Marriage is to bring out the best in us and that is also by showing us things in ourselves that have to be removed for it to work. We all got junk in the trunk. Mine was bad!! HAH!


DCZ: Is your husband supportive?
Maleah: OHH yeah!

DCZ: At what point did you decide to take the entrepreneurial lifestyle on full-time?
Maleah: I think it will always be a part of my life but not the whole. I have a lot of things other than my art that I feel very passionate about. All the pieces, including my art, come together to make the total. It is a calling card God has given me. It is a big part because I was made to do art, but I was also made to be a good wife and someday a good momma. So it will be something I will always love to do and it supports our income, humbly:)!

DCZ: What is next in your future? Dreams? Plans for yourself?
Maleah: My next plans are to set up more accounts and also seek a place to serve alongside my husband. We are looking forward to that, and have been in prayer over it.

DCZ: Do you have any art shows coming up?
Maleah: Not yet.

DCZ: Where can people purchase your product, or check it out?
Maleah: Go to my myspace site: www. myspace. com/maleahbythesea, so you can see some of my work, jewelry, and make purchases if you see something you gotta have!

DCZ: Okay, who are some people you’d like to thank thus far in your life?
Maleah: Momma, Grandma and Grandpa, and Matt Duncan the love of my life!

Dirt City Sighting

DirtCityHub.org will soon be dressing you up! All proceeds are going to the Dirt City Missions effort.
This is Lindsey McDole, she is a Dirt City native, but also my sister, so I made she and my dad represent, as they drove cross country a few weeks ago. She is wearing the "Dirt City Pool Coping" logo created by Dug Ketterman. Read about the trip below.

Got to keep on moving ..or stop moving

Someone once told me home is where the heart is. I
thought that was just some stupid saying , but for the
past year I have been longing to return to Florida.
After living in California for 7 years I realized my
heart was still in Florida. The hoards of people ,
cold water, high-end fashion, and busy lifestyle
started to get to me.
Well all it took once a phone call home and my dad and
I set off for the open road.
Day 1
New Mexico here we come. The stretch from San Diego
to New Mexico is not the most scenic route. Besides a
bunch of cactus and boulders there isn't much else to
see. Route 10 was about as desolate as they come , so
we managed to entertain ourselves by singing to Tim
McGraw and Dixie Chicks for 5 hours. I think my dad
was about to open the door and sling himself on the
pavement for insanity.
Day 2
We landed camp in Kerrville, Texas. Cowboy boots and
spurs surrounded the only restaurant in town,
McDonald's. I soon realized my days of eating healthy
were over.
The town shut down about 8pm and the local sheriff was
the only person around . Everyone in Texas is real
nice and most people take pride in their state. Must
be because everything is big in Texas. I noticed the
trucks, churches, and women's hair to be unsually
large.
Day 3
Still driving east towards GulfPort Mississippi.
Louisiana and Mississippi feel like another country.
The people are borderline twilght zone. It is hard to
explain, but when you see a gal sitting on a toilet
seat as a makeshift boat seat you have to wonder what
is going on in that persons head. Let's just say I
had my dose of middle America for awhile.
Day 4
Florida ..let there be light.
The last day was about 580 miles. We went through
Alabama briefly and headed down the coast of Florida
for the last 6 hours of our trip.
Finally there were trees and 7'11's! As we drove over
the Dunlatwon Bridge my dad said he had never thought
FL looked like paradise until now. Clean water, sandy
beaches, and people with a full set of teeth. Yes,
that is paradise.

CASH RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME

Rant by Stormer

"C.R.E.A.M. cash rules everything around me" - Wu-Tang Clan. That phrase is more then the hook of a catchy hip-hop song. It pretty much sums up our mentality in this country. It dosen't matter who you are, how much money you make, how nice a house you live in, or what kind of car you drive your whole life is spent chasing that almighty dollar. This phenomena is very similar to the social cache system of ancient India. It worked something like this, you are born into the class that your parents were born into, and no matter what you do you will always be in that social class. Very much like the economic social groupings of our time. If you are born to a poor working class family chances are that is all you will ever know. And there are these little rules that where put in place by these banking cartels to ensure people stay in there class, or tax brackets as they would prefer them to be called. And why isn't our government doing something to stop this unjust, evil form of economic slavery? Because they really aren't the ones running the show. The men who run this country are a handful of rich, conservative, white, males that own the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve isn't a government operated program as we are lead to believe. They are a privately owned and operated corporation that prints, distributes, and controls the value of our money in this country. The money is loaned to our government at interest, thus creating debt, and to pay this debt we must borrow more money at interest creating more and more debt. Which in-turns gives our elected officials no real power because they too are bound by the same chains of debt as everyone else. Other then the debt of our country how do these banking tycoons make prophet? War. Wars require unimaginable amounts of money to be fought, and the longer the war is drawn out the more money can be made. All the guns, food, ammo, transportation, fuel, and vehicles need to be paid for too, so our government must borrow more money to provide these things for soldiers to "resolve" these petty differences, but since our government is slave to this corporation they will have them drag our the smallest conflict to just rake in the prophets. From what I've seen in my very short 17 years of life this cycle of debt has got to be the greatest hustle of all hustles. These men rule the world through a meaningless piece of paper. The threat of central banking is by no means a new concept. It was the prime reason of our revolution from England. The king had outlawed the use of the free money system being used in the colonies forcing them to borrow money, at interest, from the Central Bank of England. Our forefathers knew what to do to stop this wretched enslavement, maybe it is time for us to learn from our past and do the same.

-These are the opinions and beliefs of a resident in our Dirt City. And because writing is such a large part of what we do, I am attempting to highlight anyone who has something to rant about. Opinions are everywhere, so embrace them. Feel free to send your writings to smallmanbigmouth86@yahoo.com. Thank you.

Endless Summer Fest Coverage

The Endless Summer Fest was put on by The Turning Point Youth Collective. You can learn more about their efforts at turningpointyouthcollective.org


Dirt City Zine had a booth where they displayed information about their charitable organization Dirt City Missions. They also had delicious "Dirt Tea" going for a dollar a cup.


The Dirt City product consisted of self-designed articles of clothing, canvas grocery bags to discourage waste, self-bound blank journals created by Claire Mitchell, and quite a few fun items with their logos all over them. The most important part of their booth was the fact that the money collected is going towards their first Mission in March 2009 to Odessa, Ukraine.


This booth was entitled "Gertrude" run by Alisa Buselli (alisabuselli.com), James Hartsell (myspace.com/theglonga), and Crystal Evans. Photography, artwork, records, books, and crafts all made up a neat swap meet.


The artwork to the right belongs to Brendan Manning. You can contact him and see more of his work at http://www.myspace.com/artmusiclife3.


The suitcases really grabbed your eye, being the first booth seen as you're walking in. 3 artists shared these tables: Sherise Epstein (www.sheriseepstein.com), Bernadette Wall, and Josiah Lloyd all shared a similar media, but left them being so very different from one another.




Here's photography by Kim Kuhn, urban landscapes and conceptual portraits. The paintings in the back are pieces by Eric Marzinko.

It's nice to see so many talents pulled together in a town that seems to smother fires that burn wildly. It was a long day for most and the turn-out wasn't what most had hoped for. The fact that people came out at all, of all ages and character, was much appreciated. Hopefully minds were opened to new ideas and lifestyles in one way or another. You'd never believe the impact one person can have on another. I hope to see more positive activities in the days to come.

Dirt City Missions has launched!

Dirt City Missions, Inc.
A Fla. Non-Profit
PO Box 307
Daytona Beach, FL 32115
Contact: mmcdole@dirtcityhub.com

Board of Directors:
Morgan McDole, President
Aly Bowen- Director
Dug Ketterman- Director
Lindsey McDole- Director

Missions Statement:

Dirt City Missions Inc. is a charitable organization. Our mission is building youth culture through art, skateboarding, and international service missions.

Our gloabal efforts offer skateboarding to orphanages and youth shelters as an alternative positive and social outdoor activity, in order that their resident youth might be detered from the street way of life. We will build skateboard ramps, supply the safety and skateboard, as well as proper instruction. By providing a positive social outlets for youth locally and globally, we hope to bring promise and opportunity into their lives.

Our first Mission is planned for Odessa, Ukraine. The team so far is Aly Bowen, Dug Ketterman, Erik Brubaker, and Morgan McDole. More detials on the trip are at dirtcityhub.org. For information on the cause in the Ukraine, visit www.thischildhere.org.

If you want to support The Dirt City Missions effort, click on the Donate button. You will be directed to our PayPal account.

Thanks so much!
~ Morgan McDole, Founder

Ukraine Visit Dec. 2006


More about Dirt City Missions and the trip to the Ukraine:

The best service comes from the heart, and the best way to achieve this is to find something you have a heart for. The working hands behind Dirt City are passionate skaters, and know the joy, confidence, and companionship the activity provides.

Morgan McDole is the founder of Dirt City. She opened its non-profit sect, Dirt City Missions, in April 2008. Native to Daytona Beach, she has always held optimism for the future of the community, and after moving away for six years to sunny San Diego, and then flying around the world, she figured out a lot….that she wanted to give back to the place that she felt gave her such a rich childhood. All of her efforts, she knew, needed to start in Daytona Beach.

Dirt City Missions evolved in order to open travel, service, and cultural opportunity to the youth of Daytona Beach. The goal is to be a positive hub of Daytona Beach, sending kids abroad to serve at youth shelters and orphanages, placing them, as to utilize and hone their unique talents. We have opened doors using our connections and love for skateboarding and life.

There are already a few who have gone ahead from this area, such as, Mike Hess, who started Papa’s House- an orphanage in Nepal, and Pastor Robert Gamble, who serves at the Way Home Shelter in Odessa, Ukraine. It’s hometown heroes like these, who encourage our efforts here locally, and we now hope our community will too.

DK Ramps provides the ramp building expertise. The Doo Good Conservatory, from San Diego, CA is donating complete skateboards for the mission. Now, we are raising all the money and sponsorship for travel expenses to make it happen (transportation, accommodations, shots, passports, building materials, skateboards, safety equipment, etc).

Dug Ketterman, Aly Bowen, Erik Brubaker, Morgan McDole and Lindsey McDole, are the first scheduled to go to Odessa, Ukraine in March 2009. Our first mission is to bring a team of skilled skaters from Daytona Beach, to build a skateboard ramp for the local kids, as well as set them up with the basic skills, safety equipment, and boards. The ramp goes in at The Way Home Shelter, where kids are brought in off the street, given medical aid, and an education if they choose to stay and keep themselves clean of drugs. With visits under our belt, and requests and permissions from as far as Nicaragua and the Ukraine, we know the doors have opened and now it is time to raise the money and make it happen. We estimate 2-3 weeks in each location; building, teaching, learning, providing volunteer service at The Way Home, and documenting all along the way to share our experiences and adventures with the world.

Why the Ukraine for the first trip?

Morgan visited Odessa, Ukraine, in Dec. 2006, to serve at The Way Home Shelter. There are 3-4,000 homeless children living in underground tunnels, on the streets of Odessa. The need for a positive social outdoor activity at The Way Home Shelter, was expressed when she was here. It is too enticing for kids to turn from the Shelter, and return to living on the streets, after feeling the “freedom” of this lifestyle. Unfortunately, this life comes with drugs, disease, and eventually death. Knowing the joy it skateboarding has given her, Morgan took the kids from the shelter skateboarding when she was there, and saw the exuberant amount of energy they had. Skateboarding may be the activity to match the adrenaline rush, in which the kids are addicted to on the streets. The founder of The Way Home Shelter said, “Kids dream of something like this.” This is what Morgan was hoping he would say. Now all she needed was a crew.

God supplied these missing pieces when she moved back to “The Dirt” in 2007. It is now time to follow through and make it happen. Robert Gamble is the US representative from Daytona’s First Presbyterian Church, over there right now, and has been more than encouraging as we get all the details together.

Shelters and schools have been set up in Nepal and Ukraine from Dirt City locals Bob Gamble and Mike Hess. Check their sites and stories out below.

www.thischildhere.org
www.nepalorphanshome.org

This Saturday. June 7th! ENDLESS SUMMER FEST

Turning Point Youth Collective's mission:
To provide the Daytona Beach area with resources and space for producing all-ages music events and creating music related cultural products; empowering youth through alternative leadership development opportunities including a youth-directed model encouraging leadership through open governance practices and erasing the line between the people serving and being served; to actively improve the social well-being of Daytona Beach area youth through civic engagement. www.turningpointyouthcollective.org

Nothing happens in this town and you all know it. Something free and offered to all ages is very rare around here, so why miss it? There will be photography by Kim Kuhn, a Dirt local and DBCC student. Artwork will be displayed by Eric Marzinko and Dirt City featured artist Josiah Lloyd. Dirt City Zine will also have a booth. Make sure you stop by to see all the goodies we've been working on. Come support something great.