If you pay attention to what artists are freely communicating with no strings attached, no payment required, and no restrictions – you may get a glimpse of the heart of people. When you study the imagery of the street you will see passion. You may see the future styles of society or trends that will never catch on. This mural I found along the South Bank in London, near the eye. Bright imagery, with imaginative abstract design and fantastical characterization development. What have you seen on the streets lately?

While in Michigan getting back surgery, a missionary friend of mine struck up a conversation with the person next door. This woman let her know about a family from Bhutan who had just settled in our area and were looking for some personal connections. My friend talked to a 70+ year old woman from our church living in their neighborhood. This woman instantly befriended the Bhutanese family and consequently several more families who arrived over the next few months from Bhutan and Nepal. She had them over for meals, helped them get supplies for their homes, sang with them and hugged them. She started picking up the families for church taking many trips to accommodate everyone. Eventually, her husband started driving the church van while she drove their minivan. A homeschooling mom who has taught many kids how to read noticed the full pews of non-English speakers coming each week. She plans, organizes and serves a Thanksgiving dinner for these families’ first Thanksgiving in the United States. She has started researching Teaching Engish as a Second Language and plans to kick off a class for adults in January.

It all started with a person who simply talked to someone next door. Someone willing to do something.

What am I willing to do?

For More Info re: Bhutanese resettling in US. Check out the story from CNN.

In 2009, Plywood partnered with Mission Year to bringing together the emerging leaders of our nation for a week of service and learning in Galveston, TX to help restore what was lost in the hurricane. The results were a gathering of 300 young leaders, 9000 service hours, and 38 families homes restored.

In 2010, we will gather around another community in need. We will be partnering with a number of local organizations including FCS Urban Ministries to join in the hard work of community development and learning about the importance simply loving your neighbor. Every day, teams will be serving the neighborhoods and each night will be gathering for learning environments to capture the essence of justice in the city. Work projects will include environmental clean-up, housing renovations, green-space transformation, a neighborhood art installation and many more. Topics will include: service, justice, suffering, culture, consumerism and community. We are looking for groups to join us in this important initiative to intentionally engage the neighborhoods of Atlanta and joining with local hero’s to restore the city. Sign up your group at http://www.originalcity.org

In partnership with HOPE International: we hope to introduce a creative new way to alleviate poverty and empower hard work within the poorest communities of our world. It’s called microfinance, and simply put its giving small loans to people in great need. These small loans are enabling families to fund small businesses in their villages and communities. The average loan is only $100 and the initial loan is paid back in full 99.6% of the time within just six months. That small loan is then shared with a new family for continued transformation and so on and so on. This little idea is changing families all across the world, and through Never Ending Hope, we all have the opportunity to join this story of restoration. Create a story, challenge a friend, and help end poverty. Learn more at http://www.neverendinghope.org

When something is broken, someone must help. These people cover windows, mend fences, and patch holes when no one else is around. They care for the poor, hurting, orphans, widows, and injustices. They are forced to innovate in the midst of chaos and see beauty in the broken. They are entrepreneurial as a means to cope with suffering. Plywood People is a free monthly digital magazine that exists to spotlight everyday heroes fighting injustice and restoring their communities.

Please sign up to receive Plywood People every month by providing your email.
First issue will release in December.

A revolutionary new form of giving. The gift card industry has risen to be a $90 billion industry with $8 Billion going unused every year. Plywood created a new philanthropic non-profit organization to collect gift cards and give them to people and organizations in great need. How many gift cards do you have sitting in your wallet? We guess you have at least $5 of unused gift cards in your wallet or purse right now. What’s 5 bucks going to buy you? Five bucks in Gift Cards may buy you a pair of socks…but 10 people giving 5 bucks will buy a kid a winter coat or 1000 people giving $5 from may give that same kid a warm bedroom to sleep through the night.

The Plywood collective took this idea from concept, design and implementation across the nation through viral implementation and crowd sourcing. This unique project has already been featured by NPR, Paste Magazine, Relevant Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution. This idea has resulted in giving over $30,000 of unused gift cards directly to people. Learn more at http://www.giftcardgiver.com