Amanda Murphy

11/07/2024

Good morning loves, I want to shine a little light on this darkest of weeks. If you live in NC, humanity won Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Public Instruction. OH and broke the super majority in the House of Representatives, which is a big deal. I imagine this might be true in other states here in America as well. If so, please share about it! We all need the light.

It’s time for us to talk community resilience. I'm starting to talk with my communities of people to learn what their skills are and make sure we have one another's contact information.

This is not a time for panic, this is a time for calm, strategic decisions. We have more in common with our neighbors, no matter how they voted, than you think. And we need one another. I need you.

Love ya'll, mean it. Take good care.

Send a message to learn more

10/24/2024

Wake County Public School System secures five-year, $14.1 million federal grant to support school-based mental health services - hell yes, good job! I love that they took the time to apply for a federal grant so that their citizens don't have to pay more taxes.

I am a grant writer for federal grants, specifically, and I know the work that goes into these applications. If you haven't today, thank your Wake County School board members, they are on the right path. Thank you to the ones I know: Lindsay Hegyi Mahaffey, Tyler Swanson, Lynn Smith Edmonds, great job team.

Send a message to learn more

10/11/2024

I love when research supports that we humans are more alike than we are different, and we cross party lines on the big issues.

"Support for Implementing Natural Climate Solutions in the United States is Strong and Growing: A new national survey conducted by US Nature4Climate shows that voters across party lines support natural climate solutions more than ever. Unlike other issues that polarize American voters, Natural Climate Solutions are uniquely unifying. Voters largely reject criticism that Natural Climate Solutions are too expensive and distract from other priorities, recognizing the broad array of benefits they provide.

The poll also indicates that voters feel more favorably toward Members of Congress who support these solutions. Voters also strongly support a diverse range of practices and policies to fund and implement NCS strategies, including reforestation, wildfire management, and the provision of incentives and technical support for farmers and forest owners keen on adopting climate-smart practices and feel favorably toward Members of Congress that support these solutions. In short, this poll underscores how much voters across all parties support Natural Climate Solutions to help people, nature, and the climate." by Nathan Henry, Director of U.S. Nature4Climate | August 7, 2024

Spend time listening to your neighbors and your community, and check out this link:

A new national survey conducted by U.S. Nature4Climate (USN4C) shows that voters across party lines support natural climate solutions more than ever, suggesting fertile ground for bi-partisan cooperation and consensus-building, opening up new avenues for climate action.

10/04/2024

I've got a friend on the ground in Buncombe County in western NC:

Updates for anyone in Western NC, especially those NOT downtown Asheville or in Arden. Please send these to your contacts currently in Western NC.

Emergency unemployment for anyone out of work: https://www.des.nc.gov/dua - also helps sole proprietors and contractors and 1099s

Fill out this form online or call in and go help older people call in - this is where people can begin registering for FEMA assistance of all kinds both now and in the future. They'll need it for things like homeowners insurance that doesn't cover flooding, reimbursement for power and water and lost food, etc etc: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or FEMA Helpline: 1-800-621-3362, 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week. - FEMA has hotel vouchers at the same line: 1.800.621.3362 7am-10pm (Verified by AHA)

SBA.gov manages small business disaster funding which can help small businesses float through for unemployment and rebuilding, and Mountain Bizworks can also help with these programs: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

Please, please tell people who evacuated NOT to come back yet even if their power is back on unless they absolutely have to. Resources are still in priority one status, which is simply saving lives, and even if they bring their own food and water they'll be straining the sewer systems and roads in addition to emergency response.

10/02/2024

Ya'll. I spent this week learning and hearing first hand about what is happening in multiple counties in the western part of my state, North Carolina. I know you are seeing the devastation on the news. I wanted to also share what I'm hearing firsthand.

I heard that entire water systems are completely closed, these water systems can serve anywhere from 100,000-150,000 people. I heard of stories of grocery stores being empty and owners unable to get more food for the community because of road closings. I heard stories of gas being out at all gas stations and owners only accepting cash because cards don't work unless there is power. I heard stories of families taking baths by hauling buckets of cold pond water to hot tubs, and relying on neighbors for well water as they are completely out of water and/or the water has a boil advisory because of contamination. I heard stories of folks having to leave messages on white boards at homes and at fire stations for other community members. And AM radio is back in this as the cell phone towers and wifi are not working. The worst story I've heard is that community members have watched their friends die in the flooding and there was nothing they could do.

The western part of the state is in distress. They are asking folks not to drive up there. If you want to send money, I highly recommend trusted places like the Red Cross, the NC Department of Environmental Quality website, https://www.deq.nc.gov/, they have a button at the top with a link to donate to help rebuild these destroyed water systems, or send money if you know local agencies in the area with boots on the ground.

For the rest of us not in distress, I urge you to prepare for these storms and their increasing intensity. It can take rescue groups days to find folks. I highly encourage you to purchase things like water purification tablets, flashlights, candles, a whiteboard to leave outside your house for messaging, an AM radio, extra water for a couple of days, grill with propane tanks or fire pit, canned food. Make yourself a disaster kit, and do not, I repeat, do not selfishly empty shelves with hoarding behavior like during COVID times, you know who you are.

And finally, are you able? If so, how can you serve your community, how can you support building community. Do you know your neighbors? These people can and will be a lifeline in times of emergency. We can and will need one another.

Send a message to learn more

09/30/2024

The NC Dept of Environmental Quality is pointing people to this link for western NC donations. There are water systems down for more than 200k citizens (maybe 400k) in western NC. Please donate and share if you can. Donate to support Western NC: https://pay.payitgov.com/ncdonations

Thanks, ya'll. Our western friends are suffering and several places have zero water, either from their pipes or available to purchase in stores.

09/27/2024

Hey ya'll, thought I would share this nifty little website I found this week.

If you do a quick search on this government website with public records data and filter out for Israel, each year there are payments made from U.S. tax dollars to Israel for a Foreign Military Financing Program and the amount each year from 2019-2024 is $3,300,000,000. That figure drops to $3,100,000,000 in 2018; $3,175,000,000 in 2017; $3,100,000,000 in 2016, 2015, and 2014; then it drops to $2,943,233,720 in 2013; $3,075,000,000 in 2012; $2,994,000,000 in 2011. Don't take my word for it, take a look at the website yourself.

The fact that there are several different administrations in leadership during this timeframe (2011-2024), both democrat and republicans, is important to note. The U.S. administration has given Israel at least $42 Billion in military aid from our tax dollars since 2011. The documentation goes all the way back to 1951 with the first Foreign Military Financing designation starting in 1959.

What would America look like if we had spent that $42 Billion on our infrastructure, on healthcare, or taking care of basic needs with those tax dollars? Isn't that what they were supposed to be for?

ForeignAssistance.gov is the U.S. government’s flagship website for making U.S. foreign assistance data available to the public. It serves as the central resource for budgetary and financial data produced by U.S. government agencies that manage foreign assistance portfolios.

09/26/2024

I'm super excited about this upcoming webinar series I get to work on. The webinar is scheduled for November 14th at noon EST. Please share this FREE event. We would love to have as many folks in attendance as possible. We have a limit of 500 attendees, so be sure to sign on early on the day of the event. Note: From the Forestry Webinar Portal page, click on "Export to Calendar" to save this awesome event in your personal calendar.

You can’t succeed in an interview without the skills to compete. The National Woodland Owners Association has partnered with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) to increase awareness of forest/woodland opportunities to underserved landowners / farmers. This first webinar of our series will be for students, alumni, university extension, academic researchers, and landowners to learn about career development. National Woodland Owners Association ABAC School of Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://forestrywebinars.net/webinars/workforce-opportunity-series-career-development/webinar_view/

09/02/2024

Last week I had the honor of being invited to screen a short film documentary, “Trail Therapy” in Durham. This film documents a woman's journey to physical wellness through trail running and shines a light on the impossibility of separating physical and mental wellness. It was an inspiring story, and my friends, Angela Hollowell and Jordan Mendys, did an excellent job in directing and videography.

Sometimes it feels like the world is falling apart, okay a lot of times it feels like that. But I find myself drawn to folks like Jordan and Angela, those creating art and film through their own beautiful vision of humanity. Experiencing art like this, that has never been done, is so unique. These two are pushing the boundaries of creativity to serve humanity and this is where I want to spend my days. They inspire me to create my own vision.

I'm so grateful to know folks like this, and to get to grab coffee with them from time to time. The days of networking and collaboration for personal gain are over for me. I want to find ways to support folks and their big ideas, and that is what gives me hope for our future, and helps me know, at a fundamental level, that a new world order is being birthed from the ashes of the old capitalist system.

There is a virtual screening coming soon, so DM me if you want a link or a connection to either of these two changemakers.

06/13/2024

I’m excited to announce that I’ve been spearheading a new workforce opportunity webinar series to increase awareness of forest/woodland opportunities to underserved landowners /farmers.

I am currently serving on a U.S. Forest Service pilot education partnership with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton, Georgia, and aligned partners throughout the U.S. I'm thrilled to be connected to south Georgia through this project. My family is from Moultrie and I spent many summers as a child camping, "loafin", and playing on the dirt roads in Moultrie. I also have family members who attended ABAC.

I’ve got a great team at the National Woodland Owners Association, looking at you Mark Megalos and Kelley McCarter, as well as Dr. Shannon Kidombo and Freddy Najera at @. Our first webinar: “Workforce Opportunities: Career Development” will be held in November this year, with more webinars planned in 2025. The goal of this pilot program is to build a diverse workforce, assist ABAC with recruitment opportunities, and expand NWOA educational opportunities in the area.

A sustainable forestry ecosystem will require all of us working together! Sign up below for email updates and opportunities to get involved:

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/ULmA6xw?source_id=ca07cf0d-0da0-47cd-9ad9-cb11e6ab0e43&source_type=em&c=NUv0g2Lz18fKM8-cFiEJCaSidJKPAKUeElezij6ae5d-IIeRkGZ9gQ==

05/21/2024

Our sitting president did an interview on CNN, and the news outlet stated: “...his acknowledgement that American bombs had been used to kill civilians in Gaza was a stark recognition of the United States’ role in the war.” Our country sending arms to support the Israeli military regime as it commits a genoc1de against the Palestinian people, killing more than 14,000 humans, mostly children, is not okay. This is a story of the military regime of Israel murdering innocent humans. Our American media is working to further divide us by acting as if this genoc1de is not happening as we watch it in real time, and attempting to distract us from the heart of the matter. This is not a war of oppressed humans against oppressed humans, this is a fight of the oppressed vs. the oppressor.

In Britain, the Labour party’s Andy McDonald, called for a stop to bombardment and explained that, “These words should not be construed in any other way than they were intended, namely as a heart felt plea for an end to killings in Israel, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank, and for all peoples in the region to live in freedom without the threat of violence.”

As I’ve taken responsibility for the harm I’ve caused in my lifetime thus far, I’ve woken up to the atrocities committed against different groups for all of human history. From the kidnapping of African humans to use them as slave labor for the colonists (colonialists) that stole Native American land, to the atrocities against the Jewish humans in Germany at the hands of the N***s at the same time as Japanese Americans were placed in internment camps in CA, to the atrocities committed today against humans in the Congo, Sudan, and Palestine. (this is not a full list)

The Palestinian fight for survival, and their rallying cry, is one of resistance against ALL oppressors. Students and staff, and humans globally protesting, are done with the oppressor, whether that be government or corporations. Humanity is awakening and boycotting hate of every kind. I for one will continue to use my voice, in all my imperfections to fight for folks because while I freely admit I do not know everything, I do know one thing: starving and killing women and children is absolutely wrong and must stop. If it was you being starved and bombed, I would absolutely use my voice to stand up to those oppressing you.

I will continue to fight against anti-semitism AND for a free Palestine and for an end to oppression globally. As women before me stated, “Until we are all free, we are none of us free.” - a quote by 19th century Jewish American activist and poet Emma Lazarus; and “No one of us can be free until everybody is free,” - a quote by a 20th century American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou.

Caption: Amanda, a wh1te woman, sitting in a shearer in the hot, humid NC summer in eastern NC.

05/07/2024

You know that moment when your career trajectory makes sense, if only in a tiny way? This clarity never used to happen but it seems to be happening more and more lately. Maybe it’s because I’m in my late 40s, aka the happy years. Recently, I thought:

Now I know why I wrote and reviewed 100s of engineering proposals to local, state, and federal clients for the majority of my career;

I’m so glad I wrote Community Development Block Grants back in the day;

I am thrilled I had the opportunity to take part in recent grant applications to both the To***co Trust Fund and the USDA Forest Service.

I have had a couple of opportunities over the past six months to write proposals for my own business. Last week I got to do a quick review of a company's proposal to their local government. My client had the bones of the content and did a great job compiling information. After a short conversation, I was able to help them take that proposal over the top with succinct headers that matched the RFP, multiple tables to include information in a quick, easy to read format, additional images /awards and other wow factors, and important qualitative and quantitative data to solidify the pitch.

If you are submitting a proposal, I would love the opportunity to review the proposal for you. I've written winning proposals for small and multi-million dollar projects, and I've done qualitative/quantitative review for close to 100 proposals over my career. I was taught by the best when it comes to proposal writing and review a decade ago. (I'm looking at you, Jennifer Barker, CPSM.) I'm forever grateful to have gained experience that benefits my small, female-owned business today.

Caption: Here is a photo of me, a wh1te woman hoping to do my best as an anti-racist, in my happy place, aka any forest in the world.

04/25/2024

In my third installment of why you should consider signing up for Tiktok, there is a much darker thing that is happening and could get significantly worse after the US elections in 2024.

I no longer believe that the party system we have here in America is good for society, so I’m not going to say red or blue anymore or D or R. These parties and the polarization of other humans as good or bad, or right or wrong, are a way to further divide us and keep us from organizing at a larger level where we create real change.

The Project 2025 Plan that we’ve heard in whispers for a while is explained in meticulous detail by this lovely human in ways that helped me understand what is being planned for a 180-day rollout if and when a conservative, Christian nationalist group gets a hold of our federal government. And this group isn’t just planning, we are seeing it daily now.

Check it out: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTLPVxGRR/

We cannot fight that which we ignore.

8494 likes, 521 comments. “Replying to "in spite of" < Because of”

04/23/2024

In the second installment of why you should consider taking a hop over to TikTok and getting involved:

Let Them Eat Cereal is another awesome movement whose “mission is rooted in the belief that through targeted, collective action, we can encourage companies to adopt more ethical, sustainable, and consumer-friendly practices.” They have solid reasoning on why they are performing 90-day bans on major retail corporations like Kellogg’s, which started April 1, and Nestle that starts July 1. Read more about the movement here: https://letthemeatcereal.info/the-schedule. This movement was a response to an interview the Kellogg’s CEO did a month ago: https://youtu.be/GjKhyl3DzDo?si=ceA2c8tkugyv3oR6&t=8, and also a response to the growing concern about corporate greed we are experiencing daily here in America. It's hard just to survive, ya'll. Can I get an amen?

Caption: Photo of me, a wh1te woman trying her best to be anti-racist, smiling, hoping to end the patriarchy and capitalism which I believe would be an end to injustice everywhere.

04/22/2024

Yesterday morning I woke up to read that there is a case at the Supreme Court (Johnson v. Grants Pass) to criminalize homelessness. The case “centers around the legality of whether people can be ticketed and arrested for sleeping outside when they have no other place to go.”

Let’s think this through from the perspective of those experiencing homelessness here in America. Say you can’t afford your mortgage because the price of living is so exorbitant, because of corporate greed, and maybe you need some urgent medical procedure, and you lose your home. Instead of using tax dollars to help humans here in America get back on their feet, we are instead going to send you to jail and/or prison, where you can then provide free labor.

See this article for more information: https://apnews.com/article/prison-to-plate-inmate-labor-investigation-c6f0eb4747963283316e494eadf08c4e

If you are not angry right now, you are not paying attention.

The Associated Press found goods linked to prisoners wind up in the supply chains of everything from Frosted Flakes to Coca-Cola.

04/20/2024

Y'all know I love hiking and the outdoors, so I have to say, I’m not typically going to convince anyone to spend more time on a computer or on social media. Having said that, if you aren’t on TikTok, you should at least go take a look around and check out the following, a quick search will get you there:

The 4B movement, also known as the Four No’s, is termed by wikipedia as a “radical feminist movement,” started in South Korea in 2019 renouncing "dating men, marriage, s*x with men, and having children". These amazing females have created a digital movement to protest their highly conservative society. And ya’ll, this movement has grown globally, as in your sisters here in the US are taking part, some of us for years now. Go over to TIktok and type in 4B movement, for real.

I’m in awe of young people, aka the future of this country, and have mad respect to those fearlessly protecting their individual liberties, while saving the rest of us. Young folks are rejecting the patriarchy and are making moves that benefit all of us. I’ve never been more excited to be alive than I am right now.

I know some of you lovely male humans both agree with this movement AND agree with women’s bodily autonomy, and the ideas behind a movement like this. I appreciate you. If this post makes you uncomfortable, I urge you to sit quietly alone and think about why using my voice to speak about the current lack of women’s bodily autonomy, as well as why fighting the patriarchy by organizing is offensive to you. Ask yourself questions like, "Am I benefiting from any of these things?" I truly wish you the best on your healing journey.

And I’ve posted about my heartfelt experience when I learned about this fabulous movement. I’ll be posting a couple more important movements and issues that you need to be paying attention to. Enjoy!

https://www.tiktok.com//video/7356670313733557550?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7359656232904803883

Check out Momentum4Good’s video.