Blog Archives - Page 13 of 17

Nigeria’s Gardening Style in America?

July 17, 2014 By Bukola Oriola

As an eight year-old, I remembered gardening with my mother at the back of our house in Lagos, Nigeria. Also, we had a little farm about two miles away from home. We planted green spinach, corn, okra, water leaf, bitter leaf, cassava, and other common vegetables that we cook for food. Cultivating the ground and planting was no big deal. Once we put the seeds in the ground, we just wait to see them sprout after few days. Some take up to a week or so. We did not have to water the garden or the farm. The soil was loamy and the rain provided the water needed to grow the vegetables.

Now in Minnesota, United States of America, I found myself like a sea fish but living in the pond. Gardening in Minnesota is obviously different from Lagos. The weather condition is a factor that I worry less about than the sandy/stony soil I had to plant tropical vegetables in. It took about three weeks or more for the seeds to sprout. Also, while planting, the seeds were sprinkled on the plot rather than, line them up to form a nice line as they grow.

The garden was created to help provide fresh ethnic vegetables to victims and survivors of human trafficking and domestic abuse. As a survivor, who had been in a situation where ethnic vegetable would have helped provide additional comfort during my healing process at the shelter, I thought it would be a great idea to provide that comfort to others with the help of The Enitan Story. It sounded interesting and I had no idea what kind of challenges, we would be facing as an organization with the project.

One of our board members, Angela provided her backyard for additional gardening space. One of our church

Angela sprinkling the seeds at her backyard

members at United Methodist Church of Anoka, Jim and Ann volunteered to rototill the space. Meanwhile, an instructor at the Horticulture department of the Anoka technical College, Amy Moberg had helped us to start two of our seeds – melon and fluted pumpkin from the indoor garden of the college. Unfortunately, the fluted pumpkin did not make it, but the melon survived. She also donated some tomatoes, thyme, cilantro and mixed spices. They all survived except the cilantro.

As for our ethnic vegetables, we planted jute leaves, green and red spinach, okra, and clove basil. All except the clove basil sprouted and are doing well, just not as fast as I had anticipated. Angela has been working hard on the garden behind her house and I have been taking trips to the Harmony garden in Anoka to take care of the vegetables. Luckily, we have had a Target staff come to volunteer through Volunteer Match, an online volunteering network for both nonprofits and individuals willing to volunteer their time. Another person, Trisha came to volunteer with her daughter and son. She even brought some vegetables to plant on the spot where the clove basil did not sprout.

I have had people who wanted to volunteer but had not been able to make it, so please, come, if you can, help us at the garden. I was at the garden today using hoe to weed around the edges. The garden was already shrinking as a result to the grass around the edges. It’s been a lot of patience and persistence keeping a garden without the best soil, but when I remember why I am doing it, I feel inspired to keep working at it. I put some fertilizer in the garden today and hopefully, that will help the vegetable to do better, so that we can actually make some food from it for those we want to help with it.

It has also been a learning experience. We will definitely be having a better garden in 2015. As for the garden at Angela’s backyard, some of the vegetables sprouted while others did not. We have also learned that we would need to till the soil with some compost before the next planting season to help the garden produce better.

Thanks for reading. I hope to talk to you again through my blogs. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please, send me a note – fill out the contact form. I want to hear from you. You can also get my recent posts by signing up to receive updates.

Bye for now, until next time.

You May Call Me a Preacher

July 16, 2014 By Bukola Oriola

Inside LeTourneau book — Inside LeTourneau’s book

I cannot underestimate the place of God in my life. I am what I am today by His special grace. Since school is not in session and I don’t have deadlines for home work, I have the time to go to personal schooling. I have been reading various books from spiritual growth to business sense. While reading The Wisdom That Works by Dr. David Oyedepo, I came across several authors and successful businessmen and some of their books. A vision was also delivered into my hands, few weeks after. I will tell you about the vision in another article that I will be sharing some time soon. I went to the library to check out books. One of them was The Mover of Mountain and Men by R.G LeTourneau. LeTourneau, a French man born in Duluth, Minnesota, chronicled his life experiences from childhood until he became a very successful businessman. As a reader, the author took me through a rebellious childhood where he left home to milk cow for a widow two miles away for food and shelter and to stay warm from the Minnesota winter cold. After going back home at the end of Thanksgiving dinner with his extended family, Bob, as he was usually called mend his differences with his father and stayed home. As a mechanic who was always designing earth moving machines, LeTourneau never forgot to mention the hands of God in his achievements. He also used the book to show his shortcomings as a human being when it came to relating to God or giving God His rightful place in his life. He travelled around the world sharing the goodness of God upon his business. He usually starts his speech by saying, “I am just a mechanic whom the Lord has blessed, but I am in active relationship with God.” LeTourneau found out that he can be a business partner with God to promote the work and kingdom of God during one of his visits to his pastor, and that understanding has made him to survive every challenge that stung him like bees in his journey to success. He was quick to seek caution whenever things were not going right. He was a man full of faith when he highlighted the fact that when many of us pray, we do not leave our burden before God rather we take it back with us. More so, he pointed out the mistake that many of us make when we are serving God. For example, the man who gave ninety percent to God and took ten, said, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon” as it is written in Matthew 6:24. He did not mince words either when he said “I think a lot of people get mixed up that way too. They have just enough religion to make them miserable, and not enough to make them happy.” He concluded by adding, “They can’t enjoy serving the pleasures of sin because they know better, and they can’t enjoy serving the Lord because they are not willing to serve Him all the way.” So, my question is how are you serving the Lord? This is a question that we must answer as we go about our daily life and business. It is very important to put God first in everything we do and He will make sure that what we do will enjoy lasting success. Thanks for reading. I hope to talk to you again through my blogs. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please, send me a note – fill out the contact form. I want to hear from you. You can also get my recent posts by signing up to receive updates. Bye for now, until next time.

Why You Need To Support Taste For Hope

July 15, 2014 By Bukola Oriola

The Enitan Story is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advocate for victims and empower survivors of human trafficking and domestic abuse. As you may have known, if you have heard my story or read my book, I am a survivor who wants others to be free just like I am. When I put my face to my story for the first time in February 2009 at Winona State University, my main goal was to bring the message of hope to the hopeless. I remembered like yesterday, how I poured my heart out in front of the almost filled auditorium in the morning. I spoke after an immigration lawyer who drove me to the venue of the event had introduced me to the audience immediately after her speech.

At the end of that presentation, where we had driven two hours to get to, I waited patiently for the next presentation in the evening at a different auditorium at the college. Meanwhile, I was taken for lunch by the university staff before my next presentation. Many other countless presentations followed my presentations that day. I was just sharing my story to help others.

Things began to take a new turn when I began to receive calls from victims or someone who knows a victim or works with a victim of human trafficking or domestic abuse. I even received emails, phone calls, and Facebook messages from middle, high, and college students, who have papers to write on human trafficking. I have taken the time to answer their questions as much as I can, either one-on-one at my hair braiding shop, telephone, or email. Even, members of the media have also got my attention when they needed information on these topics.

As a journalist, I took a step further by producing a television show through Public Access, North Metro TV in Blaine.

My journalism background was rather in print than broadcast; therefore, it was like wrestling as I went through the pain of TV production. I will always be grateful for the help of various volunteers, who helped to produce the show. Despite the flaws of the show, many have cited it in their research works. Some of the guests, who have appeared on the show have made it to be a respected show by presenting it to their audience and supporters to show their efforts in combating human trafficking. I have been honored to host the Anoka County Sheriff, Sheriff James Stuart and County Attorney, Attorney Tony Palumbo more than once; In addition, other notable people in the community have graced the set of the show as guests. In fact, Imprisoned Show was documented by the department of state as one of president Obama’s success stories in combating human trafficking in 2014.

When weed took over the garden, my son, Sam helped.

In my journey to bring freedom and hope to victims and survivors of human trafficking and domestic abuse, I see a lot of gaps in the services provided. For example, a victim could get free legal help as a foreign-born, but may find it difficult to get medical help, such as that of a civil surgeon specified by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Such is a service that cannot be rendered at any of the regular clinics or hospitals because of the USCIS specifications. Another is for a victim not being able to get help because the crime was committed outside of the US. And for survivors, truly surviving is beyond having basic needs such as shelter and food, but becoming self-sufficient. The Enitan Story hopes to help them accomplish the goal of true self-sufficiency through education, further education, or business.

For these reasons, and many more, was why I was compelled to take another step further by forming a nonprofit organization called The Enitan Story. Please, take a look at the short video about the organization below.

I hope that you will be compelled to support Taste For Hope in whatever way you can join me to help these people

You can support by buying this “dream” Editing Suite for Imprisoned Show.

who may turn around to help others in the future. The event will hold on Saturday, August 16, 2014 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the United Methodist Church of Anoka, 850 South Street, Anoka, MN 55303. It will be a night of music and food tasting. You can buy tickets online at www.enitan.org. If you will like to be a vendor at the event providing finger foods for tasting, please, contact The Enitan Story at info@enitan.org.

Thanks for reading. I hope to talk to you again through my blogs. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please, send me a note – fill out the contact form. I want to hear from you. You can also get my recent posts by signing up to receive updates.

Bye for now, until next time.

What Had Happened

June 1, 2014 By Bukola Oriola

Since my last post, The Power of Your Tongue about my visit to Grand Rapids, a lot had happened. I promised a sequel, but I will not take too much of your time to tell you everything, however, I interviewed some of the organizers and one of the speakers in a video that was published on Imprisoned Show. You can click on this link to hear from them.

About six weeks ago, some school girls were kidnapped from school by a terrorist group called Boko Haram in Chibok, Nigeria. Mind you, I went to a boarding secondary school just like those girls. Perhaps, you have seen rallies being organized in the news and the foreign help to find those girls. Nothing has happened since in terms of the girls’ whereabouts. I participated in a rally here in the Twin Cities at the State capitol. You can watch the rally on Imprisoned Show website. I pray and hope that those girls are rescued safely.

I had written in one of my past blogs that I met with the president of my college, Anoka Ramsey Community College (ARCC), Kent Hanson to talk about presenting to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Well, President Hanson drove me to the presentation and I must say that I was not only impressed by the board of trustees, but even more so with the president of my college, who cares about students’ well-being and success on campus.

One of the things that impressed me with the board was my introduction. Rather than focusing on my victim story,

President Kent hanson holding the placard “Bring Back Our Girls.”

they focused on my success and accomplishments and even showed how proud they were with me as one of their students. And, Trustee Margaret Anderson Kelliher, who read my bio to introduce me encouraged her fellow trustees to support my efforts and non-profit, The Enitan Story. Furthermore, I was pleasantly surprised when the Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs, Dr. John O’Brien sent me a thank you email that reads, “Bukola, It was such a pleasure to meet you today and celebrate your story and your great work. Please keep in touch – I’d love to hear about your continuing work.” He ended the email with his signature.

The Enitan Story, the nonprofit I founded less than a year ago, has now received its Tax Exempt Determination Letter is now planning its first annual fundraiser in celebration of its first year anniversary. The fundraiser is tagged Taste For Hope, where vendors will get free tables to promote their businesses, by providing free samples of their menu of choice to the guests. Tickets are on sale to guests online for $25 per person or $160 for a group of eight. The event will take place on Saturday, August 16 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Guests will enjoy tasting food and Live Music from World Beat Connection during this event. You can find out more at www.enitan.org.

I encourage you to support my effort to give help to others. You can donate to, or sponsor the event. If you want to help in kind, please fill out the contact form to learn how you can.

As I write also, I have planted seeds and plants with the help of one of The Enitan Story’s board member and an

The Enitan Story board member, Annette Brander (in the middle in white blouse) with family and friends visiting the garden

Anoka Technical College professor at the organization’s community garden to supply fresh ethnic produce to victims and survivors of human trafficking and domestic abuse. You can view pictures on The Enitan Story’s Facebook page.

In addition, we will be hosting a fundraising booth at the Andover Family Funfest in on July 12 from 10:00 Am until dusk. Join me to help victims and survivors of human trafficking by donating or braiding your hair in blue extensions at the fun fest.

I will not go without giving tribute to two legendary women – Barbara Walters of the View, who retired recently and Maya Angelou who passed away few days ago. I hope that Walters enjoys her retirement in good health and pray that Angelou rests in peace.

Bye for now, until next time.

Green Dot And The President’s Meeting

April 24, 2014 By Bukola Oriola

Several things have come up since my last post about my trip to Grand Rapids. I am still working on the part two of that trip; however, I will like to share a little bit of the event I had today. I had received a call at 2:36 a.m. from Nigeria, which disrupted by sleep. And guess what happened? I woke up late. Not only did I wake up late, my son, Samuel went to school late, and I was late for an important meeting – a meeting with the president of my current college, Anoka Ramsey Community College (ARCC), Kent Hanson. I must confess that it was an absurd morning.

It was a little chilly morning with a downpour. I brought out the umbrella today for the first time this year. I think that spring is finally here. As we finished dressing up in a rush, I picked out two umbrellas and handed the small one to Samuel and we went to the car. I dropped him off by going into the front office to sign in and explain our reason for lateness on a “late” sign-in sheet, while he was given a pink note for his class teacher.

I hurriedly left the office afterwards to my appointment with the school president. As I drove anxiously, I thought to myself, “I have a meeting with the school president and I am late.” I pulled up in the parking lot and hurriedly moved my legs as fast as I could towards the brown building. I know where his office is but do not know specifically which door goes into his office, so I asked at the front desk and was pointed in the same direction where I knew it was. I stood for a minute and read the signs. Luckily, I read one that stated, “President’s Office.” So, I walked in.

I was greeted with a smile by the receptionist. As soon as I introduced myself, she seemed to be expecting me and welcomed me warmly. I said to her, “I am sorry, I am late.” She replied, “Not to worry,” and quickly added, “Can I have your coat?” At that point, the tension in my body melted like ice in heat and I said, “Yes, thank you as I pulled my red and grey Columbia spring coat.” She offered me a seat and went into the president’s office to announce my arrival.

By the time I arrived at President Hanson’s office, I had closed my umbrella. It closed nicely into a small pouch so I left it by the couch in the waiting area. The receptionist came back to invite me into President Hanson’s office and as I walked in, he had left his seat to usher me into a couch in the sitting area in his office. He sat in a second couch. There were two blue couches with a glass table for casual conversation in front of his work desk. The window of his office overlooked the Mississippi River. The brown desk was neatly arranged.

As I sat down with him, I apologized for my lateness and he seemed not to be bothered about that. He was just excited that I would be meeting with the board of trustees. He said, “I see that you have quite a story to tell. You will be sharing with the board of trustees and I would like to be there with you. But I wanted us to meet first.” Then he went on to say, “I understand that we have met briefly before.” So, I replied, “Yes, during the Student Government’s Mock-up Party last semester. I took a picture with you.” Then he said, “Now, I remember.” I added, “I missed you when you came to the Student Government’s meeting though. I was tutoring at the Cambridge campus.” He said, “I understand that you are quite a writer,” adding, “You even tutored” with his eyebrows up in exclamation. I said, “Yes,” and showed him a copy of my book, Imprisoned: The Travails of a Trafficked Victim that I had brought for him. He seemed pleased and said, “I will definitely read the book. Thank you.”

Surprisingly, presenting to the board of trustees will not be at the ARCC campus in Coon Rapids as I had thought. The president made me to understand that we will be going to the board’s office in St. Paul in a sixteen floors building where it occupies about four floors in the building. I could see that the president holds the board of trustees in high esteem. He offered to give me a ride to the presentation, which will be coming up next month. According to him, he doesn’t want me to get lost or have any trouble finding the place. I look forward to meeting the ARCC board of trustees to share about my trip to the White House and how Anoka Ramsey has helped me in my career.

Meanwhile, I was scheduled for a presentation on human trafficking by the Green Dot Club on Campus today. Green Dot is an organization within the campus creating awareness about domestic abuse and sexual assault on campus. There are also counsellors available for students who might have been abused or be in an abusive relationship. The club had a two series presentation this week – one was held on Tuesday and I was invited to speak about human trafficking today. You never know who is in the audience. At the end of my presentation, a student came up to me to ask for help for someone who is out in Florida. According to her, she did not want to ask in front of everybody and the victim is being held against her will by her parents. I hope we can help her before it is too late. If you pray, please, pray for safe rescue for us. It’s hard to rescue a victim from a stranger; it is even harder to rescue one from a family member.

Bye for now, until next time.