As I reflect on my last 2 weeks in South Africa, I feel as though I am in a continuous state of opposition, where various forces are constantly at war with each other.

-The beauty of the countryside vs. poverty-stricken villages

-The hope of a better future vs. the despair of the ever-present reality of AIDS

-Our dispersal of knowledge vs. generations of ignorance

-The need for behavior change for oneself and the community vs. self-satisfying survival mentality

I had the opportunity to speak to a small group of young women one morning, and I was struck by their inability to think creatively or progressively about their future. Simple questions went unanswered . . . What would you like to be? _____(response: blank stare) What would you like to change about your situation? _____(response: blank stare) It was as if their coping mechanism was to limit themselves to the essentials of their existence so not to be disappointed by the possibility of something greater.

Many people have cautioned me not to get disheartened by the challenges of such a devastating disease like HIV/AIDS. They warn me that the rewards are rarely visible, and the challenge is increasingly taxing. So when my hope of influence collides with the dire reality of the situation and there is no concrete, quantifiable results for our efforts; the inevitable question arises, is the glass half full or half empty?

When it comes to AIDS, optimism and inspiration are currently a one way street. They seem to only come from the outside. Our challenge is to create leaders, where no role models exist, to invoke behavior change, where the incentive is still unclear to them, and to provide hope where only blank stares reside. Until people are capable of generating hope and solutions on their own, despair is not an option for any of us. The glass must always be seen as half full, even if there is only one drop at the bottom. This is not done with disillusionment of the problem or progress, but rather with the understanding that those with the ability to foresee a better future must continue to be the eyes for the ones blinded by their own pain and hopelessness.

(please visit www.triadtrust.org if you want more information on the organization or how to help)

Growing up in the mid-west, I was raised a good Christian girl where everyone looked like me, dressed like me, and as far as I knew was Republican like me. Diversity was not something I experienced until my freshman year at Notre Dame. My education extended beyond my basic academic classes: as my African American teammates explained to me why they can have short straight hair one day and long micro-braids the next, that “whip” actually meant my car, and introduced me to numerous musical artists that I had never heard of before.

Admittedly, I was the naïve of the naïve, but I was also raised in a home where I was taught to love and not judge, that we are all created equal, that race and culture might be some thing that makes us different from each other, but never something that should divide us . As I began to develop strong friendships with teammates of other races, I sought to see life from their perspective and was often surprised at what I saw. The looks or comments that some of my teammates received, the lack of service when we would walk into a certain store or restaurant, or the obvious stereotypes that would be made. My education didn’t stop there, as I saw people that I respected of various ethnicities act out of ignorance because of race and I also experienced discrimination of my own at times when people were not prepared to accept the lone white girl in the group.

I speak of race for obvious reason; our nation has taken a monumental step in this area by electing its first biracial president. This election challenged us all in a way that we have never before experienced. Republicans for the first time voting for a Democrat, young voters becoming passionately involved in politics, Religious organizations struggling to choose their alliances, and for the first time an African American candidate has crossed over the racial bridge that has divided us for so long.

What I have appreciated the most about this election was the on-going dialogue that took place. Granted the dialogue could get heated at times: as we will not always agree on issues of abortion, health care and national security. Success is not always measured by the level of agreement, sometimes it lies in the act of discussion and the understanding that ensues from that.

It was through these conversations that I learned about the tax challenges my friends who own their own small business experience, that not all devoted Christian women are pro-life, the intricacies of what people believe is wrong with our social security, health-care, and welfare systems, and what those who are actually risking their lives for our country believe is the best exit strategy from Iraq. At the end of the day we will always vote according to the priority of our values, and we should hold fast to those values and fight for them, for that is the beauty of democracy—we have a voice! With that voice, let us keep this dialogue open, and let the conversation go on even now after the election has come to a close.

Abraham Lincoln notably stated that we are a government of the people, by the people, for the people, therefore it is our responsibility (as the people) to define not only what type of country we are but also what direction we are going. Both candidates spoke extensively on the issue of “change.” Change does not rest solely on the shoulders of the president and those elected to office, true change happens in the hearts and minds of its people. What will you do these next four years to make our nation better? As America becomes increasingly more diverse, will we seek to understand those of a different race or culture? I challenge us all to not let the excitement and desire for a better future be something we experience once every four years, rather let it propel us to, as Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Greetings from Riga, Latvia, a beautiful city in the Baltic region of Europe.  Ashamed of how little I knew about the country that was my home for the last two months, I took it upon myself to do a little research.  As I walked through the enchanting “Old Town” which reminded me a lot of Prague with the beautiful architecture and churches, I stumbled upon the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia—and hence my educational process began.

Latvia’s independence was ripped away by Russia in August 1939, due to the Hilter-Stalin pack.  I quickly realized that most of my knowledge of the 1940-1950s was focused on the happenings of WWII, because of the United States direct involvement, and I was ignorant of the oppression by the Soviet regime in this region.  Sadly, Latvia did not gain its independence from Russia until August 21,1991.  In the midst of persecution, oppression, and displacement, the Latvian people have impressively kept their language, culture, and heritage intact throughout the generations.

My history lesson proved to be two-fold, as quickly learned that in Latvia, the world’s most popular sport, soccer (aka: futbol) actually takes a back seat to basketball and hockey.  TTT Riga, the club I played for, dominated the Women’s Euroleague, winning 18 championships from 1960 to 1982. I have a deep respect for the European leagues that have for so long provided women with the opportunity to compete professionally.  It is amazing to me how throughout history, sport has and continues to transcend political and cultural barriers.

Two women, one Russian and one Latvian, competed against each other on the court during the tough days of the Soviet occupation.  Their daughters, one Russian and one Latvian, just competed on the same team as we brought another Latvian Championship to the long-standing tradition of TTT Riga.  I leave Latvia with not only a greater knowledge of the world we live in, but with a greater appreciation of the beauty of the sport I play.

When was the last time you actually thought about the condition of your heart? No, I am not talking about the pitter-patter feeling that we associate with being in love, or the painful ache that comes when our heart is broken. I am talking about whether it is healthy and strong and able to keep up with all the demands that come with being a woman in this day and age.

A little over two years ago, the mom of one of my dear friends died suddenly from a heart attack. She was an amazing woman, vibrant and full of laughter, caring and compassionate. It was hard to see the pain my friend went through, as she learned to cope without the woman whom she had become accustom to being her steady source of love and support. I often thought of my own mother, and could not imagine what it would be like to have her taken from me.

Why is heart disease the number one killer of women in our country? Well let’s face it ladies, we began multi-tasking about the same time we learned how to walk. God has blessed us with the ability to simultaneously have careers, take care of our families, keep the house in order and maintain our social network. One of our biggest weaknesses and thus greatest challenge is taking care of ourselves!!

For national “Go Red for Women Day” on Feb 1st, I had the opportunity to attend event with Marie Osmond to create awareness as well as listen to some amazing women tell their stories. Marie’s passion for this cause stems from the experience of losing her mother to heart disease as well as her commitment to being around to watch her children grow up. What I learned was that heart disease is an equal opportunity assassin—it does not discriminate by age, race, build, occupation, or physical condition. Although each woman had a unique story to tell, there was a common thread among them: shock. The disbelief that it happened to them. These women lived what most would consider “normal” lives, yet somehow they still fell prey to this disease.

The WNBA is adding a partnership with “Go Red for Women” to the WNBA Cares umbrella. As a league, we stand for the empowerment and inspiration of women, as well as promote healthy decisions and lifestyles. Ladies, I implore you to use this as a call to action. Log onto their website (www.goredforwomen.org) for more information, make sure you are getting an annual physical, find out your family history, make sure that you have adopted healthy habits when it comes to diet and exercise, and lastly, encourage the women that you care about to do the same!! Although women have been my main focus in this blog, you are not off the hook gentleman!! Not only should you take the necessary health precautions as well, but you also need to encourage the women in your life to do the same!

It can be said that our heart is the center for your emotional and physical well-being. So from my heart to yours, I wish you health and happiness, and I beg you to please take care of your heart. You owe it to those who love you . . . you owe it to yourself!!

In the WNBA, I have the task of competing against some of the best athletes in the world, but in my trip to South Africa a few weeks ago I was faced with the challenge of combating one of the greatest killers in our world: AIDS. I am going to spend the next few blogs talking about what I experienced, the people I met, and what I learned. HIV/AIDS is a disease that entraps its victims because of certain cyclic economical, cultural, and political factors.

Lets take South Africa for example, where (depending on the region) you will find the prevalence rate for AIDS at an astonishing 30%. At first glance that number is quite daunting, and makes you really contemplate what angle is most affective to take action. I will start by illustrating what I believe are some of the main contributing factors, and then I will tell you what myself and other members representing the NGO Triadtrust (www.triadtrust.org) did to initiate change.

Like some of its Africa counterparts, South Africa is a politically divided and unstable country. One thing I have learned through the Nothingbutnets campaign, is that when it comes to distributing health care measures, there must be a strong, organized, and committed national government to make it work. If the voice of the nation is more concerned about staying in power than the welfare of its people, it becomes very difficult intrinsically or externally to establish an infrastructure that will educate, identify, and treat those with HIV/AIDS (or any other health issue). During his rape trial, Jacob Zuma (newly elected African National Congress leader) was quoted in the media saying that a person can simply take a shower after intercourse to eliminate the transmission of HIV. It is misinformation like this, coming from prominent national figures, that has enabled and augmented the course of this pandemic.

Poverty is another major component that must be considered. It not only leads to the obvious lack of resources, but also a lack of education (high illiteracy rate), a heighten rate of dependency on others (especially women who are forced to trade sex for food or money) and a disconnected conviction of how individual actions affect themselves and others. When life expectancy is low and mortality rates are high, the mindset tends to be: why worry about a disease that will kill me in the future or kill the person I am sleeping with when I am trying to get through today—live for today, and worry about tomorrow if and when I get there.

The remaining piece is intricately woven in the culture itself. The role of women in society diminishes their right to demand a partner to wear protection. Even more tragic, South Africa is the rape capital of the world, where on average there is one rape every 49 seconds. Young adults will often be engaging in sex before it is culturally suitable for them to talk about it, therefore eliminating the role of sex-education (if by chance there was education to be had). Finally, the ever-present stigma that accompanies anyone with HIV/AIDS, discourages most people from even getting tested.

Based on this information, I asked myself what I could possibly to do help. I can’t change the government, I don’t have the economic background to create financial solutions, but what I do possess is a platform given to me by the status of the sport I play and the knowledge of what it takes to build character and self-esteem. Triadtrust is an NGO that combines sports clinics with leadership training and HIV/AIDS education/prevention. Our objective is to first and foremost educate the coaches and the players on how the disease is transmitted, how it can be prevented, and the methods of treatment. Secondly, we spend time doing team-building exercises, role-playing, and round-table discussions about how these coaches and players can be better leaders and role-models in their communities. Lastly, we go out to either the basketball court or the soccer fields and teach them technical skills in their respective sports.

Yes, I realize this is a very grassroots approach to a disease of pandemic proportions. You must go into battle with a clear understanding of what your strengths are and where you can contribute. My small contribution is developing the skills and qualities that will enable the young men and women I work with to question what they have always known to be a reality and dare to dream of something better—this country is in desperate need of quality leadership, so I will try teach them what that looks like. Maybe it is my inherent optimism, but I believe in the small steps.