July 2010

The Work of a Grassroots Leader

Unpublished
Jul29
By knamimoto
in
  • From the Field
  • Uncaste India
Perhaps my uncle put it best: “Ravi is sprinkling seeds everywhere he goes, one day the time will come for a revolution- the fact that he is here is proof that day is coming soon.”

We are en route to Shiga prefecture now where we have secured an informational meeting with a nature conservation society that works with the largest freshwater lake in Japan, Lake Biwa. I am looking at Ravi right now as he writes thank you notes to the activists and professors we’ve met so far and still can’t get over the fact that he is here, on the shinkansen, eating an onigiri (Japanese rice ball) in a Uniqlo y-shirt that Jonathan picked out for him the other day.

Ravi's Culinary Adventures In Tokyo

Unpublished
Jul27
By jslakey
in
  • From the Field
  • Uncaste India
It's been two days since I went to go pick up Ravi at Narita International Airport, but with the pace we've been moving at since then, it feels like a week.

Just like Ravi, I'm not accustomed to being in a big city like Tokyo; I've spent the past two years in rural Japan in a village of 10,000 people. Here, I feel as though we are constantly moving from a train to a subway to a light rail, with only brief glimpses of towering skyscrapers before being shuttled along underground.

Ravi on the Train

Touch Down - Ravi Lands in Japan

Unpublished
Jul24
By knamimoto
in
  • From the Field
  • Uncaste India
I just got off the phone with a whispering Jonathan who reported that he and Ravi have just met at Narita International Airport and have jumped on a bus en route to Yokohama, where I am awaiting their arrival with my family.

For the past few months I have been going over the many differences between Japan and India and wondering how Ravi will react to things like the Japanese trash system and umeboshi (really sour pickled plums). I haven't been able to sleep or eat for the past few days because I am so excited to see him here!

Ravi has shown us such wonderful hospitality in India and Jonathan and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to return the favor here in Japan.

Softball Tournament is a Huge Hit

Unpublished
Jul20
By shawnrubin
in
  • News
The first ever Longitude Softball Tournament was a huge success. With more than 60 players participating, Longitude was able to raise enough money to purchase a classroom set of tables and chairs for the PROFESA Academy in Ghana.

Even though it was hot, it ended up being a wonderful day from beginning to end. As the day went on the games got better and better with a few going into extra innings. We'd like to thank all 60 players who participated this year. Congratulations to our tournament champions, team Pelletier & Mirza LLP. They defeated Team New England in a game that ended under the lights. Tom Mirza was named MVP of the final game after leading his team too victory by driving in four runs.

ARV's Ravi Kumar to Travel to Japan

Unpublished
Jul14
By Brittany Nicolaides
in
  • News
  • Uncaste India

The founder of the Indian grassroots agency ARV, Ravi Kumar, will be traveling to Japan to complete a 2-week long speaking tour. Both ARV and Longitude feel this is a great opportunity to build new partnerships, meet potential donors, expand the Japan-based volunteer network, and increase awareness of Dalit issues. Ravi is scheduled to visit both Osaka and Tokyo in efforts to further develop ARV’s capacity through these speaking events. Past volunteers have already collaborated to generously provide the plane ticket for Ravi’s flight to Japan.

Providence Ghanaians Donate Computers

Unpublished
Jul03
By shawnrubin
in
  • News
  • Educate Ghana
Providence, Ghanaian-American Organization supports the PROFESA Academy in Ghana by donating 4 new desk top computers.

On a recent hot June night in Central Falls, RI the Ghana Association of Rhode Island hosted its first ever Kente Cloth Celebration and Longitude was a featured guest. Board member Kwaku Afful and Longitude President Shawn Rubin were in attendance to dance and celebrate, but first there was an important presentation from GAORI president Kwasi Asante.

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