Report from the Windy City:

Spertus Institute

Day 2 of the RedBall Project was a huge success.  The stunning 10-story faceted window wall that forms the facade of the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies (designed by award-winning Chicago firm of Krueck + Sexton) proved to be an amazing site and back-drop for the installation to work its magic.  On bustling South Michigan Avenue with nearby art schools in session (Columbia College + the Art Institute of Chicago within blocks) the students were the bulk of the intrigued audience.  That said, Chicago’s finest construction teams took in the RedBall on their lunch breaks as did the US OLYMPIC Team - medal-clad and all. (They were in town being hosted by Oprah at Millennium Park and whizzed by on double-decker buses with their best Olympian waves to the RedBall, lots of practice at this point).

NBC spent the better half of the day filming and WTTW/Channel 11(PBS) also appeared later in the day to capture footage and interview Kurt (Perschke).

The biggest fan of the day had to be Dr. Howard A. Sulkin, President of the Spertus.  So enthralled with the project and the public’s reaction he escorted Kurt and the RedBall team up to the balcony of the building for a breathtaking birds-eye view of the RedBall (and the City of Chicago)…

Kurt’s ‘Red Ball Project - Chicago’ runs through September 25th, the longest running exhibition to date.  Check out the exhibit website to follow the wedged ball!

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

Kurt Pershke, Red Ball Project creator is in Chicago shepherding his art piece through his hometown.  He filed this brief report earlier this week:

Millennium Park - Day One!

It was a great first day for RedBall in Chicago, and a long one. We had ABC and NBC out on site and thousands of people for the Labor Day weekend, and concert with Poi Dog Pondering sponsored by Target…

Kurt also let us know what the weekend schedule for the RRB looks like:

“September 5, 11 am – 6 pm: Wishbone (1001 W Washington Blvd.)

September 6, 11 am – 4 pm: Field Museum (1400 S. Lake Shore Drive)

September 7, 11 am – 6 pm: Grant Park, Museum Campus pedestrian viaduct (under Lake Shore Drive at Roosevelt Rd.)”

If you’re in or near the Windy City, follow the link above to see the full schedule.

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

My wife, Kim and daughter Kavina decided to throw an online birthday party for me.  Somehow they infiltrated the high security cordon that I maintain around my contact list, emailed a bunch of folks and (knowing I really don’t like surprise parties) asked them to join this beautiful, eco-friendly virtual gathering on the world wide web.  It was such a clever, heartfelt gift that has sent tons of luv my way.  I’ve received messages and phone calls from people that I haven’t heard from in years and my Facebook page is looking like the stock exchange on a heavy trading day.

If you’ve read my website at all, you know that the fabulous Miz Lane is so much more than a mentor.  Recently she told me: “so many of your friends have passed away, been incarcerated or are on drugs...the fact that you’ve made it to 50 is a BIG deal!”

In that spirit, I decided to reflect on my years on the planet...hopefully, my memories will trigger some of your own.

50 years & 100 Memories…

Short thoughts from a FULL Life

• “Oh the places you’ll GO…” - Nomad since 1958. Abandonment begins from birth and @ 1 y/o I’m living with my Aunt Sandy for over a year.

• (2) Fighter - The taxi ride to Bryn Mawr Hospital for emergency hernia surgery at nearly 3 y/o (I’m told it was a near death moment for me). My Dad is gone by now & never returns.
• (3) Homeless Child – from birth ‘til the age of 6 y/o, there was no permanent dwelling for us and we slept in cars, on porches, and in the houses of strangers (my Mom’s drinking buddies).
• (4) “Daycare” – sitting on the lap of my Mom in the dark, dank atmosphere of a bar (in the middle of the day) and the oh-so-familiar smell of cigarettes and liquor.
• (5) Daddy fill-in-the-blank – “Daddy” Jackie, “Daddy” Fortune, “Daddy” whatever his name may be. My mom insists that we call all of her “Seagram’s suitors”…Daddy.
• (6) One GIANT leap for the USA! – it’s 1961, I’m nearly 3 y/o and I’m being told to sit in the living room, in front of the B&W TV (with a cloths hanger used for the “rabbit ears”) at my grandparent’s house, when JFK delivers his “man on the moon” proclamation to the nation. In the years to follow and with every evening news update I watched ‘til the “giant leap” in 1969, I can remember countless times looking up into the heavens at the moon and being bewildered about how someone could possibly travel that far?! It was my first, tangible example of the power of dreaming big and turning an idea into a reality!

(Follow the link below to read the entire piece.)

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

From the Youth Noise website:

Making a KASE for Girls Soccer

Posted by:trinachi on 08/21/08

Today I’d like to recognize a collaborative sports effort that pushes for gender equality, teaches about AIDS/HIV prevention, builds life-skills for at-risk youth, and provides educational opportunities for women and girls in Kenya.

The team began with a few primary players: CARE (a humanitarian organization that fights global poverty) and their Sport for Social Change Initiative, Nike Let Me Play (a youth-directed program to fight global poverty and oppression through sports), and the Mathare Youth Soccer Association (dedicated to empowering impoverished youth in Kenya through sports and community service projects).

Once these three players got together to kick some ideas around on the playing field, they realized that they were unstoppable. They chose a team name—the Kenyan American Soccer Exchange, or KASE—and scored goal after goal empowering women and girls in Kenya.

The KASE Girls USA Tour brought Kenyan teams to the States to build relationships and play soccer. KASE also hosts workshops to train Kenyan coaches, build political and economic support for women’s sports in Kenya, and assist Universities in developing women’s sports programs.

The Kase crew, in the midst of a multi-city tour, made it out to Portland in April; I remember seeing some news coverage of their visit. Beautiful cross cultural connections were made that could result in longterm friendships...and perhaps, change. 

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

Team Columbia

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 28 August 2008

MELBOURNE 2008 HOMELESS WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN BEGINS

• 100 days until the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup
• 56 nations make Melbourne 2008 the biggest Homeless World Cup ever
• Women’s Cup is a first in Homeless World Cup history
• Legacy of 30 street soccer programs rolled out across Australia
• National ambassadors unveiled

In just under 100 days, Melbourne’s Federation Square and Birrarung Marr will come alive with the grit, spirit and glory of one of the world’s most unique international sporting events – the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup.

From December 1-7, 2008, 56 nations will unite in Melbourne for the biggest Homeless World Cup tournament ever, including the first Women’s Cup.

Women are making strides this year on many fronts and here’s another first: the Homeless World Cup is having its first ever Women’s Cup!  Women have always been a part of the Cup,but rarely did they get the playing time.  They would sit on the sideline and every now and then, if the game was a rout, a woman would get in at garbage time.  No more.  The women of the Homeless World Cup have their own thing this year and the spotlight, now, will shine firmly on them.  And one thing I can tell you from experience: these women can PLAY!

(Follow the link below to read the entire HWC press release)

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

The Wednesday Monster is our..uh, huh, hey wait a minute, argh....

“...Do not attempt to adjust your (computer screen).
We are in control of the transmission.
If we wish to make it louder, we will turn up the volume.
If we want it softer, we will turn it down.
We control the horizontal and the vertical...”

We have preempted our regularly scheduled Wednesday Monster post for a very special announcement:

Kurt Perschke‘s Red Ball Project has once again commandeered the cityscape of another defenseless metropolis...This time, the RRB is taking over Chicago!

Artist Kurt Perschke’s RedBall Project, an ongoing site-specific installation, has been traveling the globe, adopting cities as its canvas. From Barcelona to Busan to Sydney, the sculptural performance has garnered public, critical and media attention worldwide. From September 1 - 25, 2008, The RedBall Project Chicago sponsored by Target will migrate throughout Chicago’s unique architectural landscape and history – each location carefully considered by the artist. Site locations include Millennium Park, Spertus Museum, Hyde Park Art Center, IIT’s McCormick Tribune Campus Center, the Chicago Cultural Center, and more. The RedBall will also be found atop bridges and wedged into alleys, as Perschke’s decisions address not only architecture and urban space, but also anticipate the flow of people, traffic and the observer’s eye.

Follow one of the hypertext links above to track the RBP as it weaves through the Windy City.  And of course, we will be providing occasional updates throughout its run, so stay tuned!

We will now relinquish our control of your computer screen.

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

...to support the cause of play!

From one of my play partners, KaBoom!

1. Take a picture
2. Call a friend
3. Bounce a ball
4. Throw a party
5. Pick up a newspaper

We guarantee that you will experience moments of deep emotional connection and joy following the practice of steps one through five.  If you do not experience moments of deep emotional connection and joy, there is one additional step…

Step Six - repeat steps one through five. 

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

The Zeum is “a non-profit multimedia arts and technology museum with a mission to foster creativity and innovation in young people of all backgrounds, communities and learning styles. By providing hands-on experiences in four core creative processes (animation, sound and video production, live performance and visual arts), we encourage youth to share their stories, build their voices, and use multimedia tools for creative self-expression.”

Here are a few outtakes from my visit there in ‘07:

One of the exhibits there is by an organization called World Savvy which: “provides educational programs and services with the aim of informing young people about issues such as poverty, conflict and peace building, human rights, and the environment. World Savvy’s goals are to develop students’ skills to prepare them for their future as global citizens, enhance their understanding of world affairs and develop their sense of responsibility and global citizenship.”

If you’re ever in San Francisco hanging out with the kids - or the kid in you - Zeum is a must-see.

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

From TomPeters.Com:

Dispatches from the new world of work
World’s Worst Advice!

An old friend visited for a couple of days last week. Google him, and you’ll be impressed. Or you would be, if I’d tell you who it is.

In the course of a dozen conversations—old guy conversations—we shared stories of joys and sorrows, anger and pain, good fortune and ill winds, pals and foes and traitors and through-it-all supporters.

His Hall-of-Fame career includes bushels of excoriating criticisms along the way. Embarrassing and well-deserved failures. Off years—in fact, off decades.

And musing on it all reminded me of a Very Sensible Saying that I think is pure, unmitigated crap, in fact the World’s Worst Advice:

“Know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em.”

As I said ... pure crap.

Forget “fold ‘em.”
Drop it from your vocabulary.
Excise it.
Bury it.
Stomp on its grave.

If you care, really care, really really care about what you are pursuing, well, then, pursue-the-hell-out-of-it-until-hell-freezes-over-and-then-some-and-then-some-more. And may the naysayers roast in hell or freeze in the Antarctic or bore themselves to death with the sound of their “statistically accurate” advice…

There you have it!

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

Thursday Shoutout is our time to feature those who are fighting the good fight using sport and play for social change.  And giving thanks to those who have given us luv on their websites.  This is our way of saying: Backatcha!

From the Right to Play website:

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST NATALIE COUGHLIN MAKES HER MEDAL COUNT

$20,000 Donation to Right To Play Made Through Hearts Of Gold Program

BEIJING, CHINA (August 12, 2008) – The Olympic gold medal Natalie Coughlin won today for the Women’s 100m backstroke at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will have a longstanding impact not only for Team U.S.A., but for children in need throughout the world. Through the Johnson & Johnson Hearts of Gold program, the Company will make a $20,000 donation on behalf of Coughlin to international humanitarian organization Right To Play.

When given a platform as large as the Olympics, the temptation for the young athlete may be to focus on self, on me and my accomplishments.  This is completely understandable.  And then there are those players who are able to step back from the boozy glow of success and find a way to share their success’s reward.  Right to Play is an organization that helps world class athletes share their success with youth living in dire circumstances all over the globe.

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

Stefan Bucher’s Daily Monster is our Wednesday staple of creative, hairy fun.

Stefan and the monsters are branching out into the jewelry biz, but you know it had to be for a worthy cause…

The first is Metal For Monsters, a charity jewelry project started by graphic designer Eric Jean-Louis and industrial designer Vivian Cheng of Blend Creations. 

{(met-l fer mon’strs) cause. 1. An effort by Blend Creations to raise money for UNICEF by collaborating with artists for a special line of limited-edition stainless steel pendants.}

They invited nine artists to design laser-engraved stainless steel Monster pendants to benefit Unicef. Happily, two of the Monsters agreed to help.

Each pendant is limited to 100 pieces, signed and numbered on the back, and sells for $81. $16 of that goes straight to Unicef. Please check it out.

I think I’ll take my two monsters to go!

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

From the Millennial Challenge blog:

Red Ball Drop Day #5: Finale!

My last official day for the Red Ball Drop in Uganda, and Ball Drop #23 and #24, took place at the ENGAGE Uganda, Namuwongo Youth Soccer Tournament (attended by over 500 people) and Uganda’s School for the Disabled. 10 youth from GYPA who live in Namuwongo, some of which also participate in Gomo Tong Football Club, participated in sporting matches with the children and youth including, hand ball and tug-o-war. View the photos here and more details coming soon!

Jeremy Goldberg and Global Youth Partnership for Africa are on the front lines of the sport for social change movement. A lot of dreaming happens when kids are at play, kicking a ball around a yard or field.  GYPA’s ball drops are like dream catchers, dream makers for kids.  A ball can change a life. 

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

NY Yankee All-Star shortstop Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Baseball Camp ‘08 was held this weekend in Kalamazoo, MI.  Perusing the web, I noticed that the ‘07 event received some blog luv (including pics) from Kalamazoo City Commissioner Sean McCann:

Today I was privileged to be a guest at the commencement picnic of Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation Baseball Camp, which ran for the past four days at Mayor’s Riverfront Park and operated in partnership with the City of Kalamazoo’s Parks and Recreation Department. Photos are (1) under the tent with all the baseball campers and their parents, and, (2) the motivational speaker, Kevin Carroll, author of the book “Rules of the Red Rubber Ball” - he gave an excellent talk with a great message for the many youth present.

Look for the ‘08 Turn 2 report coming very soon!

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

When your field of play is a dirty courtyard or a trash filled lot - steps can be taken to clear the debris, plant grass and create an oasis for youth to play.  But what about the ocean?

A while back we told you about the ”Free Rice” campaign.  Here’s another opportunity from the Youthnoise crew that requires a simple click of your computer mouse to help us help the ocean…

Just 1 Click

In August, clicks will give support to sporting for good. For each click, YN will donate $.01 – up to $1,000 – to the Surfrider Foundation.

100,000 clicks can help the Surfrider Foundation confront water pollution, beach access, beach loss, and other serious issues. More

30%
Clicks so far: 30,884
Goal: 100,000

Protecting Our Beaches for Over 20 Years

The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans—having fun while making a difference. Founded in 1984, the Surfrider Foundation focuses on clean water, beach access, beach preservation, and protecting special places as their major initiatives. Click every day in August to help keep our oceans clean, safe, and fun.

With ocean dead zones expanding at alarming rates, we have a lot of work to do - on land as well as sea.  This is a tiny step, but its heading in the right direction.  Play your part - click that mouse.

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

My very able assistant, Jessica Lustbader, forwarded me the link below.  If you want to know anything about sport and development, go here....

From the International Platform on Sport and Development:

What is Sport and Development?

For these very different actors to understand each other better, it becomes necessary to develop common definitions and frameworks for action in order to improve practice.

The opportunity to use sport and play to create a better world is limited only by our belief in and the power of our imaginations.  Every day, more creative uses of play are sprouting all over the world.  As these individual, often isolated initiatives develop, so too will the need for an infrastructure to support, enhance, link and promote these activities and activists.  The IPSD seeks to provide this kind of support.  To read more about the International Platform’s mission and values, follow the link below…

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!