From Long Island City to Africa

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world – Nelson Mandela

Anthony Lynn the head coach of the NFL’s LA Chargers, is spending this week in a tent in Tanzania according to a lengthy profile in Yahoo Sports. His journey to Africa began several years ago in the much more comfortable surroundings of a private terrace in Long Island City inhabited by his friend Ravi Reddy. It was there, overlooking Midtown Manhattan and eating barbecue, that Anthony and his wife Stacey Bell first heard about Ravi’s desire to help an organization he volunteered with build a school in a rural Maasai village desperately in need of one.

Like any big project, these things require numerous catalysts and some good timing to come to fruition. They also require a lot of persistence and fortitude, given the incredible distance and red tape to/in Africa. But it’s all coming together now as the combination of Ravi (and his wife Robyn’s) vision and Anthony and Stacey’s sponsorship have put the ball in play, tents included.

Anthony Lynn’s ‘Vision Coming to Life’ Has Nothing To Do With Football – it all started in LIC

Privilege2Serve – ending poverty by empowering communities through education, Donate Now

The Junglescape Installation at MoMA PS1’s Is Now Open – what’s that poking above Jackson Ave?

Mina’s, The New MoMA PS1 Restaurant, Will Debut At Warm-up This Weekend – “say goodbye to the sad food usually available at concerts!”

MoMA PS1 Names Kate Fowle as Director – big change #1 at the top of the LIC art world

Sculpture Center Names Christian Rattemeyer As New Director – big change #2 at the top of the LIC art world

Pink Canary Closes at 13-11 Jackson Ave – no more desserts in LIC

A Whirlwind Round-the-World Food Tour of Queens – via the NYT “Long Island City is also home to Queens’s lone Michelin star earned by Casa Enrique. It’s delicious. Skip it.