off we go…
In a recent poll of Falling Whistles Interns from all around the office (yes, it’s quite expansive), 8 out of 8 interns said that Week 1 was a phenomenal, extraordinary, extra special, super “rad” week, maybe even one of the best of their lives.
On the intern application, hopeful intern applicants were told, “You are now going to be a part of the most down and out, upside down, never sleep or shower (definitely already evident), work till you drop, exhausting summer of your life.” Great. And why would anyone want to be a part of such a wonderful, relaxing, sleep-late, eat lots of dessert, go see all the new movies summer?
Peace in Congo.
A seemingly impossible goal, but one that we interns believe must be accomplished. Both for our sake, and for the sake of the children whose lives we are fighting for.
This blog is an attempt to record the events of our summer.
And off we go. Hit the ground running, and tripping in the case of some of us. 8 interns. Packed into a two-bedroom apartment with one too small refrigerator, a whole lot of bunk beds, and a whole lotta’ love, the interns are in LA and ready to get moving, working to accomplish the 30 not-so-small goals for the summer.
At the beginning of the week, we were given a schedule that was pretty empty, but don’t be dismayed, there was a caveat at the top of the page, “You will probably wonder why there are such large gaps in this schedule. Rest assured that you will be busy, you will have time to eat, and for the most part you won’t know what you are about to do until we tell you.”
Notice that sleep was not mentioned.
Monday morning, we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway to the Santa Monica Canyon State Park where we would spend the morning dreaming and taking a hike through the hills, pursuing clues that would lead us into discussions about team dynamics before we would ever work as a team.
After learning everything we ever wanted to know about our new housemates/complete strangers on the first day, we settled in for a week of training, inspiration, education, laughing at and with each other, and workshops by the likes of Rachel Sparks (founder of the Sold Project), Garrett Awad (marketing director at Toms Shoes), Bobby Bailey (co-founder of Invisible Children), and James Pearson (founder of Acholi Beads, and former director Invisible Children’s Bracelet Campaign).
We talked about the paradox of choice, love languages, conflict resolution, the history of East Africa since colonialism, Generation Quiet, marketing, freedom, the logistics of shipping whistles, our dreams for our world and for what our generation’s revolution will be, and peace in Congo. We learned about whistleblowers in history, dictators, and rebel leaders in East Africa. Worked to create recurring giving campaigns, point of purchase plans, and company branding designs. Brainstormed about effective problem solving and goals for the summer. And ultimately began to realize the great power of our collective voice in leading our generation’s revolution.
And then Friday came around. Oh Friday. Just after we began our day, Sean and Jonathan rushed in, excited about the news they’d just received: “Kenneth Cole is doing a benefit fashion show for a non-profit in a couple of months and they’re interested in a Falling Whistles application for this show. This is huge, you guys. Huge. But here’s the catch: our proposal for the show is due today. So get moving. Have a rough draft by 1pm.”
It was then around 10am.
So after a quick brainstorming session we got moving, and with the whiteboards covered with ideas and drawings, and our computer screens full of draft proposals, we were somewhat ready to present our ideas by 1pm. Sean and Jonathan came in and listened as we described our ideas and proposals for Kenneth Cole/Falling Whistles fashion show.
After we had finished presenting, Sean looked at all of us with a serious facial expression and said:
“There is no fashion show.”
The jaws around the room dropped in unison. And then a chuckle. And another. And an explosion of relieved laughter. The show was concocted as an exercise for us to see how we responded under pressure in completing a task, which we did, with some amazing ideas that can, and will be used in the future.
Thankfully, we were given the afternoon off, and headed to the beach. Beach volleyball, pallet destruction in order to make firewood, dinner of roasted hot dogs and cheese whiz, workshop by James Pearson, a beautiful sunset, and music by Kai Brown were to follow. Jess’s team won the beach volleyball game, and Jonathan enjoyed his cheese whiz while we all laughed, relaxed, and enjoyed some down-time together.
This week, we’re getting into the thick of it and beginning to tackle the list of goals we have for the summer. But more on that to come.
However, Shikha and Jess did want me to say that today we learned the following about how to work together: have all eight of us talking, yelling, and watching funny youtube videos and then going back to work and getting our stuff done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLdQ3UhLoD4
More coming soon…
For peace,
Will
P.S. I like quotes. Here is the intern quote for the summer:
“Inspirational quotes are for suckers.”
-Anonymous
Wait… I actually meant this one:
“This hour in history needs a dedicated circle of transformed non-conformists…The saving of our world will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority…like Thomas Jefferson, who in an age adjusted to slavery wrote, ‘We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness’; Through such maladjustment an already decadent generation may be called to those things which make for peace.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
“you volley, i volley, and we are all smothered in sand.”
Capers Rumph
June 5, 2009
Dockweiler State Beach, California
“jonathan hearts cheesy weenies.”
Capers Rumph
June 5, 2009
Dockweiler State Beach, California
“sandsliders and surfriders.”
Capers Rumph
June 5, 2009
Dockweiler State Beach, California
