This is my Interview with Brandon Carr, Cornerback of the Baltimore Ravens and Founder of the Carr Cares Foundation on the Water Crisis in Flint - January 2018
Image: Carr Cares Foundation
Brandon Carr was born in Flint, Michigan in 1986. He attended Carman-Ainsworth High School and Grand Valley State University where he was a Division 2 All-American football player. Brandon entered the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008, and has since played for the Dallas Cowboys and is currently with the Baltimore Ravens. In 2012, he founded the Carr Cares Foundation, which aims to improve child literacy, healthy living, and physical education for students. In 2015, Brandon was nominated for the NFL's “Walter Payton Man of the Year Award,” for his outstanding service to the community. their outstanding work in the community.
THE INTERVIEW
1) During the MyCleatsMyCause campaign, many NFL players represented many different charities. You chose Flint, Michigan. Why?
I chose Flint because that is where I was born and raised. I care a lot about the Flint Community and I will always show my support for the city that raised me. I also represented Dallas and Baltimore on with my cleats as well. Those three communities mean a lot to me.
2) Growing up in Flint, did you experience problems like the water crisis today?
No, I did not. Growing up in Flint was a great experience for me. I spent most of my time playing sports and focusing on my education. We definitely faced some challenges but nothing to the extent of the current water crisis. I couldn't imagine having to worry about something of that magnitude as a kid. I have the utmost respect for the Flint residents who are dealing with this on a daily basis. Flint is a very resilient city and I have confidence that we will bounce back from this tragic situation.
3) What is your Christmas wish for the citizens of Flint?
For good health and the opportunity to enjoy the holidays with their loved ones. For things to continue to improve in the city and for the crisis to be over soon. I know there is a lot more work to be done and it is not something that could be solved in a day. I just want the residents to not have to worry about this issue anymore and be able to bounce back as a city.
4) What recent advancements have you seen in solving the problem in Flint?
They have been working hard at replacing pipes for residents who are in areas with high lead levels, they are building a state of the art school for young students who have been exposed to lead, and there is a new Hurley Children's Clinic that I was able to visit that is doing amazing work for young kids and their families.
5) Can you explain what sort of work your foundation, Carr Cares does?
The Carr Cares Foundation is geared towards helping young students read proficiently by the third grade. We have reading centers and peer to peer reading programs that focus on getting young students up to speed and we try to provide them with different tools and resources to help them read at their grade level.
We also work to promote healthy lifestyles for children by offering sports camps and educating them on the types of food they should eat to properly fuel their bodies.
6) Are you going to wear the cleats again this season?
Unfortunately, the "my cleats my cause" campaign is only for one game per season. I wish we could wear them more often, however, I am grateful that the NFL created the program to shine lights on our community endeavors.
I chose Flint because that is where I was born and raised. I care a lot about the Flint Community and I will always show my support for the city that raised me. I also represented Dallas and Baltimore on with my cleats as well. Those three communities mean a lot to me.
2) Growing up in Flint, did you experience problems like the water crisis today?
No, I did not. Growing up in Flint was a great experience for me. I spent most of my time playing sports and focusing on my education. We definitely faced some challenges but nothing to the extent of the current water crisis. I couldn't imagine having to worry about something of that magnitude as a kid. I have the utmost respect for the Flint residents who are dealing with this on a daily basis. Flint is a very resilient city and I have confidence that we will bounce back from this tragic situation.
3) What is your Christmas wish for the citizens of Flint?
For good health and the opportunity to enjoy the holidays with their loved ones. For things to continue to improve in the city and for the crisis to be over soon. I know there is a lot more work to be done and it is not something that could be solved in a day. I just want the residents to not have to worry about this issue anymore and be able to bounce back as a city.
4) What recent advancements have you seen in solving the problem in Flint?
They have been working hard at replacing pipes for residents who are in areas with high lead levels, they are building a state of the art school for young students who have been exposed to lead, and there is a new Hurley Children's Clinic that I was able to visit that is doing amazing work for young kids and their families.
5) Can you explain what sort of work your foundation, Carr Cares does?
The Carr Cares Foundation is geared towards helping young students read proficiently by the third grade. We have reading centers and peer to peer reading programs that focus on getting young students up to speed and we try to provide them with different tools and resources to help them read at their grade level.
We also work to promote healthy lifestyles for children by offering sports camps and educating them on the types of food they should eat to properly fuel their bodies.
6) Are you going to wear the cleats again this season?
Unfortunately, the "my cleats my cause" campaign is only for one game per season. I wish we could wear them more often, however, I am grateful that the NFL created the program to shine lights on our community endeavors.
Race Riot Roots: Looking Back on the 1992 Los Angeles Riots and Finding Routes to Healing
by Andrew Elliott Cha
Asian American Policy Review, November 2018
http://aapr.hkspublications.org/2018/11/15/race-riot-roots/
(Click image for link to article)
Politicians Use Olympics to Cloud Human Rights Abuses
by Andrew E. Cha
The Baltimore Sun, February 2018
(Click on image to view article)
The Crime of Modern Day Slavery on the High Seas
by: Andrew Elliott Cha
Harvard Human Rights Policy Journal, February 2017
Click on the image to read the article. (Picture Credit: New York Times)
https://humanrightspolicy.org/2017/02/22/the-crime-of-modern-day-slavery-on-the-high-seas/
https://humanrightspolicy.org/2017/02/22/the-crime-of-modern-day-slavery-on-the-high-seas/
