The Love Alliance Newsletter #31 - January 7, 2010

We are honored to have gone through another year with everyone in The Love Alliance community. Last year was a busy year for us and we plan on amping things up in 2010.

We want to hear from you while we are planning for this year. Please take a minute and answer a short ten-question survey here.

LAST MONTH – HAPPENINGS

In 2009 we launched our new website, attended 14 different festivals, partnered with many other organizations and did countless projects to make a tangible difference in communities through out the world. Last year our groups grew from 35 to 60+ groups in four different countries. We are excited for all that has been accomplished and look forward to exceeding the past in a big way this year. For more information on what we accomplished in 2009, our big plans for 2010 and how you can be directly involved read our year-end letter here.

Last month we accomplished a large goal we had set for ourselves for 2009. In 2008 we distributed 50,000 educational flyers. We made it our objective for ’09 to double that amount and distribute 100,000 flyers. We are proud to announce that as of last month we distributed well over 100,000 flyers in 2009! These flyers go a long way in educating individuals on social injustice while providing them with means to make a difference towards injustice. Through our time on the road we have met so many people who these educational flyers mean a great deal to. They often serve as a catalyst for those wanting to use their lives to make a difference in this world. We met an elderly woman who uses the flyers as bookmarks for her Bible so she can be reminded often of the needs of the world and her ability to impact them. We also remember one specific mother in Buffalo, NY, who told us about her 9 year old son who taped the flyers to his wall to remind him of the needs in the world and his ability to help meet those needs. We are thrilled at the impact these flyers have had in evoking passion in individuals to use their lives to make a difference towards injustice in the world.

Our TLA groups made a huge difference last month. Our TLA Louisville, KY Group collected Christmas wrapping paper left out for garbage on Christmas night and turned it in for recycling. Our TLA Triangle Area, NC Group made a huge difference in the lives of 37 homeless and needy people within their area by providing them with much needed winter coats during an unusually cold spell in NC. Our TLA Appleton East, WI Group made fair trade chocolate available to their high school encouraging an entire school to consider the treatment of those who produce the things they buy every day. Let us know how you &/or your group made a difference in December. Email us at: info@thelovealliance.net. Click here to find a group in your area or to apply to get one started where you live.

LAST MONTH - ACTION PROJECT

Last month we considered the environment during our holiday gift giving. We encouraged everyone to relax a bit in his or her consumerism and give vintage or homemade. Instead of placing a demand on new products those that participated in December’s Action Project reused or repurposed previously used products. Lisa and Gary from North Carolina gave only vintage or homemade last month. In the end of their holiday giving they had not only reduced their demand on new products but had also saved them a great deal of money. Having given 12 gifts they only spent $1 on gifts and $22 on shipping. There are many other stories like this of individuals using recycled wrapping paper and homemade thoughtful gifts. This is what The Love Alliance is all about. Using the events and things we have at our disposal to make difference in the world around us.

THIS MONTH - HAPPENINGS

It has been a busy yet slow start to this month. We (David and Lauren Ranzino) have officially made the move to New York City. After what was supposed to be a temporary move to NYC in the fall, we felt like NYC was the best place for us and the non-profit at this time in our life. We are excited for the opportunities that the organization will have in this influential and big city. We are thrilled to get more involved and excited to be working with individuals from NY Dream Center, Trinity Grace Church, and the soon to be launched Red Eye: NYC. Not to mention others that we still have yet to meet. The organization will continue to be based out of Florida and we will still be highly involved in the Sunshine State. We are just broadening our reach and excited for it.

President Obama has issued a proclamation naming January 2010, “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.” In this proclamation he says, “I urge all Americans to educate themselves about all forms of modern slavery and the signs and consequences of human trafficking.” Obviously this is a huge goal of The Love Alliance. So please educate and/or re-educate yourselves on human trafficking by visiting the Remember the Enslaved section of our website. Click here to read the Presidential proclamation. And also find out more about human trafficking from organizations like Love 146, Not for Sale, and RestoreNYC.

Our TLA Wilkes Barre, PA Group is recycling their holiday cards in a very neat way this year. We thought we would pass along the word so all of you can join them in making a difference. Did you receive some holiday cards this year? Or any greeting cards for that matter? St. Jude's Ranch, is an organization that serves abandoned and neglected children and families to receive a better life. One way for them to raise money is to recycle greeting cards. What you can do is send the cards to St. Jude's Ranch for Children Recycled Card Program, 100 St. Jude's Street - Boulder City, NV 89005, and they will take the design part and paste to it a new back and create a new card. For more information visit http://www.stjudesranch.org/help_card.php. Be sure to join with friends, co-workers and family members to save on postage and to do something very simple to help sick children.

Coincidentally our TLA Avon Lake, OH Group is also reaching out to sick children this month. They are holding a teddy bear drive. They will be collecting the teddy bears and distributing them throughout a children’s hospital in Cleveland. We are so proud of how our groups are thinking outside the box in ways they can give back in the month of January.

As we plan for this coming year, we are really hoping to hear more from you. As mentioned before, please take a minute to answer our ten-question survey. We would also love to hear your thoughts on The Love Alliance and what you would like us to be doing this year. Feel free to email us at info@thelovealliance.net

Again we are so thankful for all of your support that you have given in the past We want to extend our offer of 10% off in our webstore through January. Just type: THANKS in the discount code field at the checkout. Click here to visit our store now.

THIS MONTH - ACTION PROJECT

In this New Year we as a community of people working to make a difference in the world choose to learn new things. This month as an organization we will be focusing on educating and/or reeducating ourselves. What social justice issues are most important to you? How much do you really know about these issues? This month we encourage you to get to know these issues and all of the ways individuals can make a difference towards them. Visit the Education section of our website to learn more about social justice issues.

What are the ways in your specific community that individuals can get involved in making a difference? The best resource to educating and activating your community is you. This month focus on under girding your foundation of knowledge to become a better resource to those around you that are seeking to make a difference.