Mixing Work with Pleasure for a Great Cause: Meet Rye Barcott June 12, 2012
Y’all know by now I get to spend a lot of time around cool people. Next Thursday, June 21, I get to hang out with a fellow Tar Heel, Rye Barcott, who is making a huge difference with his book It Happened on the Way to War at a fundraising event that benefits the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.
If you know me at all, you know I love connecting with people passionate about something, anything. My personal passions for change are around sexual abuse and human trafficking, and literacy improvement. But, I don’t need you to be wrapped up in my causes to encourage you in your own. I just think we all should be giving back to the world in which we live in some way, shape, or form.
In 2000, when I was trying to find myself post-college, Rye was learning the travesty that is war-torn Africa. (Hey, we all learn differently… it took me longer to get out my own selfish way!) His bio on his Website makes me want to know him more and introduce him to anyone and everyone who can further his cause.
From his Website: In 2000, Rye Barcott spent part of the summer living in ten-by-ten-foot shacks in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. He was a twenty-year-old college student heading into the Marines, and he sought to better understand ethnic violence—something he would likely face in uniform. Barcott learned Swahili and listened to young people talk about how they survived amidst poverty he had never imagined existed. He stumbled into friendship with a widowed nurse, Tabitha Atieno Festo, and a tough community organizer, Salim Mohamed.
As I read Rye’s bio, I think about my own life story and reflect on a life mantra of mine: To whom much is given, much is expected (Luke 12:48). However, Jesus’s famous words mean more to me than “If I’m rich, I give, but if I’m poor, I’m off the hook.” I fully believe we’ve all be entrusted with some sort of gift. It’s our job to use said gift.
Mine happens to be knowing your current situation doesn’t dictate your future possibility. That’s why, I believe, God continues to give me the opportunity to connect good people with other good people.
So, if you live in the Charlotte area, come out and join us Thursday, June 21 from 5-7:30 p.m. at Zink. American Kitchen. All the details are below. I hope to see you there! And, if you’ve got space on your blog to link to this one and help me tell Rye’s story, please do so. I fully give you permission to repost and repurpose this article.
Literacy Cocktail Hour to Benefit Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
WHO: Friends of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Rye Barcott, #6 on WSJ Bestseller List last week, and winner of the 2011 Ragan Old North State Award for best nonfiction in North Carolina for his book It Happened on the Way to War.
WHEN: June 21, 2012. 5-7:30 p.m. Rye will speak around 6.
WHERE: Zink. American Kitchen. 4310 Sharon Road, Ste. W01. Charlotte, NC 28210 - Located at The Village at SouthPark, and adjacent to SouthPark Mall
WHY: Besides getting to hear a cool story and meet like-minded folks? Well… a portion of all proceeds also benefit the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s book and materials budget!
RSVP: Arden – amclaughlin@cmlibrary.org
Update per some questions I’ve gotten: This event is free! A portion of all proceeds of the Dine Out for Books event will be donated to the Library. And the Library always accepts donations.
What is the cost for this event? Sounds awesome and is a worthy cause – but don’t see a ticket or entry price?
It’s free. A portion of any purchase you make that evening will be given to the Library. And we’ll always accept donations!
I’ll add that information to the post.