CURRENT MISSION

launching peace-fostering nonprofit

ABOUT ME

Greetings, I'm launching a peace-fostering nonprofit in Atlanta, GA that focuses on serving teenagers, called buds: building understanding. Your interest is very welcome.

Check us out: http://www.building-understanding.org/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_137701362952396&ap=1

Some personal history:

Atlanta, GA native, GA Tech graduate in Engineering Psychology.

Fall 2009 I returned from a delightful Fulbright Fellowship at Kyoto U. and life-changing solo travel in Thailand and Cambodia. Prior to those trips I thought I would be an academic, pursue a PhD, and better the world (read: developed world) through psychology-based research and teaching. However, after my brief but enlightening visit to SE Asia at the end of my grant year, I decided to apply my skills in a more community-engaging way.

I began work at Refugee Family Services teaching kids and later designing programs for high school students. Before too long, the former director of the GA office of the National Conference for Communities & Justice (NCCJ) asked if I, as an alumnus of NCCJ programs wouldn't lead a relaunching of the organization in GA. And so here we are.

As well I am passionate about Argentine tango and teach: http://www.shorrfootedtango.com/

PHILOSOPHY

IQ of 130, or IQ of 60? - not our choice. Born into wealth and privilege, or born into poverty and disadvantage? - not our choice.
Circumstance (and genetics) is to blame/credit for all we see and do.

I live to improve the lot of those disfavored in the crap throw. And to do so makes me happy.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Father and I couchsurfed all over Israel for about a week and a half, December 2009, and had a fantastic time meeting and sharing with generous, interesting people.

Sister and I couchsurfed in Nagoya, Japan in April, 2010 and had a similar experience.

Interests

advancing equality, human and civil rights, psychology, anthropology, economics, international development, photography, Argentine tango.

• photography
• tango
• civil rights
• recipes
• breakfast
• technology
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• anthropology
• economics
• engineering
• genealogy
• history
• languages
• psychology
• solo travel

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Catch 22, For Whom the Bells Toll, The End of Poverty, Encountering Development: The Making and the Unmaking of the Third World

Music: WREK radio (my college radio station which plays an eclectic mix of everything from classical to bluegrass to electronica - [wrek.org])

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have eaten my breakfast in an outdoor cafe while gazing upon majestic Angkor Wat, the temple complex illuminated by the soft rays of morning sun, myself surrounded by hungry, begging children.

Teach, Learn, Share

Happy to teach: Argentine tango, English, Japanese.

Happy to learn: new languages, traditions, recipes.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Canada, France, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, United States

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