If you are like me, from the moment you heard about Justin Timberlake's new album, you suspected something was up.
In case you haven't heard, JT's new album is called: The 20/20 Experience. It was released--conveniently with that title--shortly after we announced that our three-year mature $2.25 million organizational expansion effort called the 20/20 Vision Campaign passed the $2.0 million dollar mark. Are you catching on yet?
At first I thought: is Justin Timberlake trying to ride our coattails to multi-platinum success? Is he jumping on the 20/20 Vision bandwagon that we've worked so hard to establish?
Then I thought: maybe its all a coincidence. But THEN I saw the cover art. And read the lyrics.
First, here is our 20/20 Vision Campaign Logo:
Now, look at JT's new album cover:
I mean, his doesn't have the high quality production value of our logo, but that is what you get when you are limited to photoshopping other people's work.
More Proof Of JT's Plagiarism
Let's recap the main tenets of BHA's 20/20 Vision Campaign...
So I dropped $7 to pick up JT's new album and I'm halfway through the song Tunnel Vision when I hear this verse:
I got a million reasons for clingin' to hope
I got 2 and a quarter reasons, no need to cope
I wanna serve more families. Yo family! You got served
I'm fixin' up da block and won't let it reverse
The children are our future, we should teach them well
For a future with hope, a hope you can't quell
There were a lot of beats and stuff, but I'm pretty sure that is what I heard him say. I mean, I'm happy to have our work in Harrisburg celebrated like this. But there is no acknowledgement that he's speaking directly about us. No direct reference to our tireless work on Allison Hill. Not even a mention of our beautiful windowless basement offices.
Look, I'm not a conspiracy theorist. But when you see a random fact that can be stretched to fit something you believe to be true, it's hard to ignore.
So, Mr. Coattails, you are on notice. We know your game. And we're telling our friends about what you've been up to.
What do I want?
An apology would be nice. Sure, I'd love to join you on Jimmy Fallon to televise your apology nationwide.
But if that doesn't suit your schedule, Justin, maybe you could look at your budget and consider taking our 20/20 Challenge: giving $20/month for 20 months to help us complete our campaign. That would truly be a 20/20 Experience! Its spread out like that to make it doable for people like you...allowing time for your album sales to pick up.
Think about it. Your move.
Cordially,
Steve Schwartz
Executive Director
Brethren Housing Association
Thursday, February 14, 2013 We're Launching a VS Program!
Brethren Housing Association is launching a full-time, residential Volunteer Service (VS) Program! Our VS House will be a hub of ministry in our community. The goal is to recruit 4-6 adult staff via Brethren Volunteer Service, Mennonite Voluntary Service, Americorps, Vista or other sources to live in and serve our neighborhood. Several of these VS staff would be dedicated to the ministry of BHA, but we hope to partner with other churches and ministries in our neighborhood by providing housing for VS staff, thereby opening this source of staffing to them as well.
To launch this vision, we are hiring a half-time Volunteer Coordinator to conduct the planning and coordination necessary in the coming year or so. This staff person will also help coordinate other volunteers including the management of work camps and day groups.
A full job description can be found on our Job Openings page. Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter by March 20, 2013.
Our Program Director Crystal Baxter and Case Manager Marilyn Bellesfield are members of the first class of trainers certified nationwide to be Faith and Finances educators. This past Monday night we covered lesson 6, Frugal Living. Below are some highlights from this week.
We're heading into the home stretch of the Faith and Finances curriculum
Case Manager Marilyn Bellesfield leads the group through an exercise in thinking how they could reduce their expenses
BHA Program Participants along with several Bagwashi Circle mentors are taking part in the course
The groups split into two sub-groups to brainstorm ways they could live more frugally
Each group filled the "Thrift Tree" with a wide variety of practical ideas
Sunday, January 27, 2013 Thanks For Honoring Dr. King!
Special thanks are in order to everyone who helped make the 2013 MLK Day of Service a great success! Over 100 volunteers joined us at BHA along with our neighborhood partners Danzante Community Arts Center, Brethren Community Ministries, Community Action Commission and Harrisburg First Church of the Brethren on neighborhood and facility beautification efforts.
We also want to thank WGAL TV for highlighting our work, as they also spotlighted several regional community projects on MLK National Day of Service. See below:
And pictures from the day are available on our Facebook page.
Work Day @ BHA Sat., Apr. 13*
8:30am-3pm 11th Annual BHA Golf Tournament Friday May 10
Starting at 12:30pm;
Parline Golf Course Get Details8th Annual Spring Thaw Bike Tour Saturday May 11
Starting at 7:30am;
Mount Wilson Church of the Brethren Get Details8th Annual Ministry Celebration Event: Reception and Auction Tuesday Oct. 29
6pm
Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey
* Dates and times of workdays are subject to change. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Dennis Saylor, our Property Manager, at 717.233.6016 or dsaylor@bha-pa.org to confirm work day is continuing as planned.
