At the depths of commerce…

Not everyone is aware of what goes on in the basement of the Commerce Building. While floors above share the mission “to foster, serve, and promote the Nation's economic development and technological advancement (Commerce Dept. website),” the sidewalk acts as the proverbial sea level. DC’s National Aquarium makes its home here and for just $7, guests have the privilege to share the afternoon with some of the world’s most peculiar marine life.

It seems a stark contrast to the bureaucracy contained in the walls above. The dimly-lit field trip destination offers a great sanctuary for civil servants and students alike. Looking through the thick portals, guests are taken on a journey around the great seas to lay eyes on the most colorful creatures.

I have traveled the world to see historic and natural monuments. I use ballgames, parks and concerts as my guiding compasses. Visiting the aquarium offered a greater understanding for those who choose their destinations by the rivers and coast lines. There is serenity in the quiet walls containing the marine characters that resemble cartoons. It is cool to make eye contact with the creatures that seem to thrive nearly motionless in the middle of the water.

My education is not in science and I claim to know little about the domain. But as a student of business, visiting the aquarium and reflecting on what must be millions of varieties of fish gives me a better perspective of what beauty we need all need to work to preserve. I wonder how often the workers above make the trip.

“If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else”

On Friday, September 18, I spent a few hours with Washington Parks and People. WP&P is a DC-based non-profit organization dedicated to...parks and people. Together with about ten classmates (a poor conversion), I rode the Blue Line further east than I ever had, to Capital Heights. I was tasked with navigating from the metro station to the RiverSide Center, the WP&P homebase, where we'd be receiving our directions for the day. As I rode the long escalator up from the metro's depths, I admittedly had no idea what to expect when I surfaced. It could be corn fields, it could be inner-city; I could be coming up in a different city. Naturally, this area of SE DC takes the appearance of much of the rest of the city's periphery--a little aged, a little rundown and overgrown, but still ripe with character.

We walked the nine blocks through Marvin Gaye Park (labelled with a hand painted sign) and were met by some helpful workers at the RiverSide center, where we received the very generic legal rundown and very unique history of the project. We learned that over 18,000 needles had been removed from the park. As a cynic, I had to wonder if the decimal point was misplaced.

We also learned that the center in which we were sitting in a circle (closely resembling a dance studio), was originally a night club. It was, in fact, THE night club in which Marvin Gaye had gotten his start as a performer and where he was eventually discovered. As a avid music fan, this fact blew me away. I was at an historic landmark that most of the city, and the country, has overlooked. It falls short of Graceland and Abbey Road but music lovers deserve to know about this place and it should be marked with a plaque at the very least.

Like many service projects, we were put to work moving brush from point A to point B. We cut piled branches into more manageable sizes and after the first hour we were struggling to find viable tasks. We returned to the center and collected trash bags and galoshes to go clean up the stream.

What we found is that picking up trash is one of the easiest and most significant ways to make a noticeable difference in a park, on the street... or in one's apartment. In addition to imagining the countless tales that likely surround the bizarre items we collected, one can see a marked difference between when we arrived and when we returned home.

It occurred to me that this type of service does not require organization or guidance. Individuals often sit around with a desire to help, and they just don't know how. Here's how: Pick up trash. We all have bags, we all live in areas that deserve to be cleaned up. Take an hour, take an afternoon, take a friend and go pick up trash. Laugh about the bizarre items you find, recycle the alcohol bottles you'll inevitably find and know that you've made a difference.

Today's title is a quote from Marvin Gaye.

"Treat My First Like My Last"

My name is Andrew Dawson and those close to me bypass my first name. I am a second year student of George Washington University's Global MBA program and have a May 2010 graduation date on the horizon. My view of business in society has taken turns since I was young. It changed while I was wearing a white collar and once more when I returned to the classroom. With this blog, I’ll be looking at how organizations and people (including myself) interact, reflecting on how each can make a difference and letting you know how I feel. I will also offer firsthand accounts of experiences that I find pertinent, whether as a VA/DC resident or as a GW Business School student.

Separate from this campaign, I am learning to cook, planning a trip to Israel and battling insomnia. I welcome assistance on any of the three. Today's title is care of Jay-Z.