Welcome to lin.c,

By now you have worked out that lin.c is short hand for lifestyle-information-network.com. True, it's a little long for a website address, but it truly embodies all the things this site is about.

If you are new to the site, take a look around. And here is a brief description of the site:

Within the site, you will find information that relates to all things that inspire personal and societal growth. It is a big, bold, progressive stab at the idea that my life and yours can be enriched by including inspired growth in our lifestyle. Plus, I think it makes us a little bit 'fresher' (you know, cooler).

If you are a part of the small, but dedicated global group of folks who have been hanging in there with me on this lin.c project thus far, let me first thank you for your support and patience. Second, you should know that this is lin.c, revamped!

Let me back up a bit. I began the brainstorming phase of this website a couple years ago. I was approaching the 8th year of my so-called 5-year plan. And boy was I was busy! Working hard, delivering big results for big business; chasing that American dream ! Pulling myself up by the boot-straps, as they say... I admit, there was a certain intoxication that came over me as people looked at me with admiration and pride. I had family, friends and colleagues who would pat me on the back and exclaim that I had "made it", that I was a statistic-busting, break-out success from the North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ghetto. After all I had a great career at the junior executive level in Fortune 500 companies. Small peanuts to some, but for a 'brotha' who grew up within the public welfare system, well, let's just say that there are high percentages of us who didn't get that chance. First black this and first black that; I was breaking stereotypes and glass ceilings, man!

Fortunately for me (and maybe, in some ways, unfortunately for some of my supervisors over the years) I have always worked from a reference point of entrepreneurship; so, while in the eyes of others, I had indeed done some rare things, it was never enough to satiate my hunger to do more, to be more, to give as much as I was blessed to get, to throw the rope back(more on this later...).

Side Note: maybe that is why I was so good at my job. Maybe my desires to represent all that I came from were enough armor to shield me from the battles of bias that are still fought on uneven playing fields across America today. Yes, even today; even in the era of Barack Obama. ...End Side Note.

Still with me?

With all those dynamics at play, I was trying to figure out how I could make more of an impact in my community,country, maybe even the globe. So at the beginning last year, for the first time in a long time, I really listened to my soul. I moved on from corporate meetings and red-eye flights, fancy hotels and expense reports, and began testing year-one of my new and improved plan; Now, with no said date! (...hope hip-hoppers, catch the Wu-Tang reference)

Whew!

Personal and, indeed societal growth is hard work! It takes time and patience. 2009 reminded me of these facts. 2009 reminded America too(financially, politically etc...). 2009 however, was the year I needed to better understand how to build momentum around the lin.c movement. 2009 also gave me the opportunity to apply this knowledge practically. My group has grown and so has our reach. It is my sincere hope that the ground work laid in 2009 created the pathway to the growth and development of lin.c. 2010 and beyond will get our movement in full swing. So here is a look at what is happening now...

* CCDG, A Grassroots Movement: Cornerstone Community Development Group

* TTRBO Project: Throw The Rope Back Opportunity Project

* Poverty Redux: Economic Development. One 'hood at a time.

* The New Style: Lin.c

--Aaron Conway ____________________________________________________________