I’m really looking forward to this “vertical road race.” The Fight for Air Climb is a sporting event that serves as a fundraiser for the American Lung Association. So, in addition to getting some good exercise, we can raise funds to support important research, advocacy and education towards beating lung disease. Also, it’s a great team building exercise. I only wish we could recruit more of our colleagues!

If you’re so inclined, you can support our team by making a donation here. No amount is too small (or too big!). I thank you in advance for your support!

2012 Fight For Air Climb in Detroit

Over the course of the two-days, each organization was allotted time to present on relevant immigration projects, such as exhibits and public programs, that take place at their museum. I enjoyed learning how each institution adresses this important, and often controversial, topic. Although we’ve worked with some of these museums in the past, I think new and deeper collaboration will result from partnering on this initiative.

One important outcome of the meeting was to establish collaborative programming on immigration for the near future. The proposed ideas are being synthesized by project staff and will be re-distributed to the partners soon. I suspect a pilot program will launch sometime later this year, so keep an ear to the ground. In addition, the Smithsonian has bigger plans for the future that may include major programs and exhibits (perhaps in 2015/16).

I applaud the Smithsonian for addressing such an important and timely topic. Indeed, I think much is to be gained through this initiative and I suspect it will play an important role in helping to re-examine what it means to be American in the 21st century. If you’re interested in staying abreast of new developments with the project, then I recommend you “like” the Americans All: The Immigration/Migration Initiative Facebook page.

Here’s a copy of the presentation I delivered on Wednesday, January 25:

Be sure to like the Little Syria Exhibit Facebook page for updates on the project. Also, if you missed it, there was a story from PRI’s The World, titled Saving New York’s ‘Little Syria’, that was aired on National Public Radio earlier this week. Check it out!

Little Syria Exhibit on Facebook

For one, quit sending so much email. Yes, article after article explores the lost productivity of email (how many times have you cursed “reply all?”) Instead, considering walking over to a colleague’s desk. Chances are you’ll get a faster response with less interference, as well as a little exercise to boot. Next, consider stepping out of the office for a walk during the lunch break. I’ve been doing this with a handful of colleagues over the past several months. The conversation is good, often a combination of humor, updates on what’s happening in our personal lives, and some brief talk about work projects and initiatives. I’ve found this to be a refreshing break in my workday.

Additionally, try one of the many DIY standing workstations (here’s one featured on Liferhacker). If you’ve got a laptop, consider placing it on top of a shelf or cabinet. Also, consider sitting on a stability ball. Yes, there’s been many jokes made about people sitting on “orbs” – see this clip from The Office – but I for one have found this to be much more comfortable than my lousy office chair. A stability ball will only set you back about twenty bucks and it will help keep your core muscles engaged.

In short, quit sitting and start moving. We spend a good portion of our lives at work. This is one of the first places we should strive for improving our health.

Do you have an office hack, a standing desk, or another strategy for quitting the office chair? If so, let me know what it is.

How Sitting Wrecks Our Body (via TechCrunch)

Similar to other major industries, Big Media is still undergoing a radical transformation. Regrettably, many employees within this industry are experiencing a profound impact, often negative, on their careers. Earlier today I learned that Booth Newspapers will be laying off 500 of its 1200 employees on January 2, 2012. That’s right, almost 50% of the staff. Booth Newspapers, based in Grand Rapids, owns eight newspapers in the state of Michigan, including the Saginaw News and Grand Rapids Press. While I’m fairly confident that journalism will continue to flourish in the digital age, I can’t help but wonder about the future careers of some of these former employees.

This unfortunate news has reminded me, once again, how important it is to develop new skills and pursue lifelong learning. Nothing is certain. The notion of working in one industry or for one company over the course of an entire career is no longer a reality. Change is constant and professionals need to adapt. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that the average employee will work 10-15 different jobs over the course of a lifetime. Acquiring and refining one’s skills is an absolute must. The business model of the 20th century is obsolete. Looking forward, competition is no longer local; it’s global and it requires mastery of many rapidly changing fields. Empower yourself to take control of your career. Don’t let an industry or employee define you.

Here’s a copy of the presentation I delivered early today. If you have comments or questions, please feel free to leave a remark below or contact me through LinkedIn.

DIWAN unites Arab American artists, scholars and performers representing myriad academic fields and artistic genres. The conference affords a safe space to discuss topics and issues affecting the community of artists while also fostering an open environment conducive to networking and community building. Most importantly, the presentations shed light on what’s new in the world of Arab American art while creating a greater awareness for the artists and their artwork.

I’ve been involved with DIWAN since it’s inception. I’ve had the honor and pleasure of moderating a panel at all four conferences. This year I will be moderating the session, The Stories We Tell: Arab Americans convey their truth through emerging mediums of installation art, film and the graphic novel. I’m looking forward to working with a great group of presenters and I expect nothing less than another inspiring and informative conference.

It’s really quite amazing how big we’ve grown this grassroots conference in five short years. Working on this project is definitely one of the highlights of my job at the AANM. If you’re in New York this weekend (March 25-26), be sure to stop by the CUNY Graduate Center, which is where the conference will be taking place. Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention it’s FREE. Yes, we are all about being open and accessible to the public.

Also, be sure to check out the schedule and peep some photos from the 2007 and 2009 conferences. We’ve also published the audio and video of sessions from the 2009 conference on our iTunes U site. Hope to see you there this weekend!