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Munroe Falls man helping to raise funds to aid people of Mali in Africa
By Jim Carney Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Monday, Aug 06, 2007
Scott Lacy grew up in Munroe Falls, but his life was transformed on his first trip to Mali in Africa in 1994 as a member of the Peace Corps.
Not only did he become critically ill from rheumatic fever the next year, but also he fell in love with the country and now works to help its people.
Lacy, 36, formed a non-profit group called African Sky that works to build friendship and understanding between the U.S. and Mali.
Q: How did the Peace Corps change your life?
A: The Peace Corps taught me that the poorest of the poor are the most generous and hard-working people in the world. Despite their life challenges and endemic poverty, my host village was easily one of the happiest places I've ever visited. One hour of hard work in the fields under the hot sun made any troubles I had in the U.S. seem petty. This commu nity took me in and cared for me as if I was a long-lost relative.
Q: Was that the inspiration for your work in Africa?
A: Inequality drives me crazy, and I do not feel whole unless I am doing something to mitigate the social, economic and ecological violence meted out on hard-working farming communities in places like Mali. . . . In addition to my work via African Sky, I teach to inspire young adults who prefer a life of service to alleviate suffering as opposed to a life of shiny cars, real estate and making money for the sake of hoarding it.
Q: What was your first impression of Africa?
A: I was young on my first trip, so it captured my heart, mind and soul. I remember being awestruck as Malians began to teach me of their history, a history in which this same region was one of the most powerful on earth massive armies, embassies throughout the known world, sophisticated governments, universities, and more and this is in the 1200s and 1300s. When I arrived in Mali in 1994, I knew I would forever be connected to this amazing nation.
Q: How did African Sky get started?
A: I believe that friends take care of friends. I see it daily. So I created African Sky to create friendships between U.S. and Malian communities, because I know that through friendship we can transform lives in powerful ways on both sides of the Atlantic.
Q: What do Akronites need to know about the people in Africa?
A: Akronites need to know that Africa is NOT a basket case. It is a massively diverse continent filled with impressive histories beyond a pyramid here and safari there. Furthermore, the continent is filled with innovative farmers, business people, scientists, teachers, community organizers, artists and more. Africa does not need your charity, it needs your friendship. For example, if we cut U.S. subsidies for factory farmers who grow cotton, Mali would not need the levels of aid it receives today. Also, Akronites need to know that we are all Africans, every one of us. Molecular genetics have confirmed that we all came from Africa. For creationists, that means Eden was in East Africa. For evolutionists, well, it means almost the same thing.
Q: You raised money for a school by selling Browns Backers shirts. How did this happen?
A: I was conducting my dissertation research when I was overwhelmed with guilt because of all the knowledge, kindness, and experience that Dissan (his host village in Mali) was giving me. I decided to recruit my community in the U.S. to raise funds to build a pump for my host community as a physical token of my thanks for all they were doing for me. . . . As I was putting together my ideas for raising money for the pump project, the Browns Backers coordinator encouraged me to make a Mali Browns Backer shirt to sell to raise funds. We took the idea and ran with it. Soon after, my sister made a great logo. She worked with my mom, dad, and grandmother to print some shirts, and the rest is history.
After an article in a few papers, we started getting serious numbers of orders. Browns fans rock. . . .
After a high-profile mention in the Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and several papers across the U.S., we managed to raise approximately $10,000, $15 at a time. . . . I told village leaders of our success, and we all decided that instead of a pump, we would build a school. . . . Because so many people wanted to continue supporting the school and Mali, I did the only responsible thing I could. After a pro-bono meeting with Akron lawyer David Kern, I started the process of creating African Sky.
Q: How can Akronites help your organization?
A: They can visit our Web site and spread the word. We even have some school video. They can attend our silent auction. They can attend a pig roast in October that we are hosting with the new Bougouni Browns Backers. They can donate money, sponsor projects, or just buy an African Sky or Bougouni Browns Backer Shirt. We are selling a new version in August.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Scott Lacy grew up in Munroe Falls, but his life was transformed on his first trip to Mali in Africa in 1994 as a member of the Peace Corps.
Get the full article here.
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