ADAM GREENBERG IS A CREATIVE HUMAN.
(Redundant? Yes, of course it is.)
(Redundant? Yes, of course it is.)
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ARTIST, BACKPACKER, TEACHER,
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AdamGreenberg.com is the official website of some guy by the same name. Thanks for being here.
Adam's grateful his 20s were a debt-free decade traveling with intention through work with meaning.
Some of that work includes TOMS, The White House, teaching abroad, experimenting with art
and business in the Gift Economy, and two proud terms of national service with AmeriCorps.
We have got to reform student loan debt for all.
Adam's grateful his 20s were a debt-free decade traveling with intention through work with meaning.
Some of that work includes TOMS, The White House, teaching abroad, experimenting with art
and business in the Gift Economy, and two proud terms of national service with AmeriCorps.
We have got to reform student loan debt for all.
On the MBTI, I'm a solid ENFP. This means I've got lots of "projects". Naturally.
PRESENT (2016)
- International Backpacker & Storyteller, AdamAndLianne.com
- Websites in the Gift Economy, AdamINeedAWebsite.com
- Founding Artist, CREATEandGIFT.org
- High School English Teacher, South Korea
- Team Leader, AmeriCorps NCCC
- Rock Climbing / Ropes Course Facilitator, Camp Walt Whitman
- Owner / Fixer, Name Your Own Price! iPhone 3 Screen Repair
- Denver Microbrewery Dude, Vine Street Pub
- Organic Gardener, ARC of Montara
- Painted & Gifted Art Every Day in 2010, TonightsWatercolor.com
- Copy-Editor Intern, The White House
- Community Organizing Fellow, PolitiCorps
- "Shoe Shoe Train" / Marketing, TOMS
- Ideas Guy, LastNightsDream.org
- Everything Internets, BioTour
- Corps Member, AmeriCorps NCCC
- Bachelor of Science '07, University of Miami
- Activist & Fellow, Young People For
- Card-Carrying Member, Rubiks.com
- Student Government President, Wantagh High School
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PAST (1985)
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Adam's free watercolors are available at TonightsWatercolor.com
His international free art forum happens regularly at CREATEandGIFT.org
(Yes, free shipping too.)
His international free art forum happens regularly at CREATEandGIFT.org
(Yes, free shipping too.)
Adam Greenberg had just turned 24 before Fri. 1, Jan. 2010; and probably not unlike yourself, he hadn't painted since 9th grade art class either.
Thanks to an academic scholarship, Adam is a debt-free 2007 graduate of the University of Miami, and oh so grateful to say he's had the most amazing years of his life since earning his B.S. – serving (twice now) with AmeriCorps NCCC; living on a recycled waste vegetable oil and solar-panel powered school bus while touring the US on the 2008 Campaign Trail; and working as a community organizer, among much else.
He is also a former intern of both TOMS Shoes (where he re-wrote the mission statement) and President Obama’s White House.
Thanks to an academic scholarship, Adam is a debt-free 2007 graduate of the University of Miami, and oh so grateful to say he's had the most amazing years of his life since earning his B.S. – serving (twice now) with AmeriCorps NCCC; living on a recycled waste vegetable oil and solar-panel powered school bus while touring the US on the 2008 Campaign Trail; and working as a community organizer, among much else.
He is also a former intern of both TOMS Shoes (where he re-wrote the mission statement) and President Obama’s White House.
- more bio below -
LINCHPIN
In these nine incredible years since college (9 already? wow), Adam's lived all over the United States (and now Korea), with 85 (mostly) awesome housemates, and in quite a host of strange living situations (a Portland kitchen's breakfast nook, for one).
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Social Entrepreneur meets journeying vagabond, some might say he's a Sagittarius. (True.)
But definitely a Linchpin. |
NON-ARTIST
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TONIGHT'S WATERCOLOR! |
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my 2010 new year's RESOLUTION to PAINT |
 www.TonightsWatercolor.com |
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Adam initially gave Tonight’s Watercolor! pieces away for free to people who donated to Haiti’s 2010 earthquake relief (yes, shipping too!). And he quickly raised over $500 ...now he just gives them away for free anyway.
Tonight's Watercolor! started with the intention to make his own "me time" of colorblind creation each day. He invites you to do the same.
Plus, spreading art for the sake of spreading art is a fine way to spend part of your day (contributions gratefully accepted too, of course). Watch the Denver 9 News Video Interview above.
Tonight's Watercolor! started with the intention to make his own "me time" of colorblind creation each day. He invites you to do the same.
Plus, spreading art for the sake of spreading art is a fine way to spend part of your day (contributions gratefully accepted too, of course). Watch the Denver 9 News Video Interview above.
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Adam was honored as 1 of 50 people featured (on the cover and) inside Seth Godin's eBook, SXSW Pokes.
His story is on page 19.
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THOUGHTS: Your art need not be literal.
TAKE AWAY: Make time for it. Make time for yourself. Also, give. Give often.
TAKE AWAY: Make time for it. Make time for yourself. Also, give. Give often.
FOUNDING ARTIST |
CREATE AND GIFT |
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Motivated by his fantastic personal experience with his own creativity through Tonight's Watercolor! Adam felt inspired to facilitate a simple forum for the creation and gifting of free art by others (yes, shipping too). Open to all, everywhere, he founded CREATEandGIFT.org in Oct. 2013.
Consider this your invitation to share original art and the real gifts to be enjoyed in creating, giving and receiving.
FREE.
(Yes, shipping too.)
ART IS A GIFT. And here, that's literal.
CREATE something and GIFT it away for free to a total stranger
... or be that stranger, and enjoy some totally free art.
Welcome to an international free art forum
for artists and "non-artists" alike.
Honored to be on the cover and featured inside South Korea's Dec. 2013 issue of the Gwangju News:
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Speaking on the topic "Enhancing Community Through Gifting," Adam presents CREATE and GIFT for the first time, at the Gwangju International Center in Gwangju, South Korea on Sat. 15, Mar. 2014.
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EXPLORER |
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI |
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University of Miami. 2006.
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A Bowman Foster Ashe scholar, Adam earned a Bachelor of Science with a degree in psychology and minors in biology and business administration after changing majors about six times. Having interned in emergency rooms, he was "pre-med" through his 2nd semester senior year, until he finally and honestly asked himself, "Self, why have I been doing this to you?" and set aside his MCAT prep.
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THOUGHTS: Ask yourself, "Why?"
TAKE AWAY: Answer honestly.
TAKE AWAY: Answer honestly.
INTERN |
THE WHITE HOUSE |
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The White House. 2009.
He's served in the administration of President Barack Obama, working on Green Jobs initiatives at the White House Council on Environmental Quality and enjoyed mornings weeding in Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden.
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Wayne & Garth. Halloween 2009.
He also dressed as Garth and gave candy to students on the front steps of the White House with First Lady Michelle Obama (dressed as a cat) and the President (dressed as himself).
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His actual work involved copywriting this Recovery Through Retrofit report to Vice President Biden and his Middle Class Task Force.
Read about his run-ins with US Secret Service and President Obama on the blog (coming soon).
Read about his run-ins with US Secret Service and President Obama on the blog (coming soon).
THOUGHTS: Being a White House Intern sounded absolutely absurd to me when my Grandma suggested it, "Obama's just been elected; you should work with him." Then I thought, "If that sounds crazy to me, it probably sounds crazy to others too... which means they're not going to apply... which means I should apply... because they're not." (Yes, this was my actual thought train through the process.) Sometimes reverse psychology works.
TAKE AWAY: Apply. I never would have been accepted if I hadn't.
Also, help yourself stand out. This is just another way of saying, be real. The application asked,
TAKE AWAY: Apply. I never would have been accepted if I hadn't.
Also, help yourself stand out. This is just another way of saying, be real. The application asked,
from my White House Internship application
That came up in one of my interviews. Remember, there are real people on the other end of the line who can enjoy a chuckle too.
Also, who knew? It turns out a lot of people actually do apply. How's that old quote about luck go again?
Also, who knew? It turns out a lot of people actually do apply. How's that old quote about luck go again?
GARDENER
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ABUNDANT RESOURCE COMMUNITY OF MONTARA |
Our backyard garden.
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After DC, Adam moved to Montara, CA (20 min. south of San Francisco) with another fellow White House Intern (Wayne above).
The two started a community center / organic neighborhood garden / qi-gong & yoga studio focused on sustainability and conscious intention. A quote we often heard, "I'm glad somebody in the community's doing something." |
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THOUGHTS: Policy's important; so is action.
TAKE AWAY: Say "Yes, let's do this" more often. |
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LOVER
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INSTIGATOR ENTREPRENEUR |
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First time skiing
He bartended at a microbrewery having moved to Denver, CO for a girl. (The Vine Street Pub rated 1 of 50 best places to drink in US!)
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Name Your Own Price
There, Adam started an iPhone 3 Screen Repair business where clients name their own price.
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THOUGHTS: At least we tried.
TAKE AWAY: No regrets for making an effort. |
THOUGHTS: In a negotiable transaction, let the other party name the first price point. Now you're not leaving money on the table. Also, that price point need not always be money.
TAKE AWAY: Think different. (© Thanks Apple.) |
FLEXIBLE MAN |
ATX |
... then he moved to Austin, TX when it didn't work out (the relationship, not the business).
 Austin, TX. Mar. 2011 |
In fact, business (since you asked) was BOOMING!
No, that's not true. He learned that running your own small business is rather similar to how Ice-T defined pimpin'. It ain't easy. |
THOUGHTS: More importantly, I also learned, "I've never been to Austin, but I hear great things" is the city's actual slogan, as said by no less than every single person outside of ACL.
TAKE AWAY: Go to Austin.
TAKE AWAY: Go to Austin.
FOLLOWER OF HIS
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CAMP WALT WHITMAN |
Lead Climbing Mt. Rumney, NH 2011.
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Coincidentally when the iPhone 4 came out with new screen technology, Adam decided it was time to move on.
So he had an amazing summer in the woods of Piermont, NH as a rock climbing and ropes course facilitator at Camp Walt Whitman. Never having actually rock climbed before, he was legitimately hired solely on two stated qualifications: "I'm not afraid of heights and I love climbing trees." |
THOUGHTS: While sitting in an old-timey ice cream shoppe in Chicago on a Friday night during a cross-country road trip with an AmeriCorps buddy, we started talking about what teachers do in the summer. I thought working at a camp sounded like something I would enjoy. By Tuesday we were in Memphis and I came across an attractive post on CoolWorks.com. I called immediately, introduced myself, and had a good short conversation. I interviewed (again) on Thursday, was hired on Friday, and on a flight moving to NH on Sunday at 6am. All in less than 9 days.
TAKE AWAY: Climb trees.
TAKE AWAY: Climb trees.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER |
POLITICORPS |
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Prior to all the aforementioned, Adam spent the Summer '09 in Portland, OR as a Fellow of PolitiCorps - a progressive public policy "boot camp" of Oregon Bus Project fame (application video above).
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PolitiCorps. Ashland, OR. 4, Jul. 2009
He and other selected Fellows learned real-world applications of leadership skills and campaign savvy: they registered voters; volunteered with Oregon's communities; vetted public policy; rolled with the waves in the ups and downs of fundraising; and ran both successful and failed (read: more successful) campaigns.
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THOUGHTS: There are really amazing programs out there to learn the skills you want to develop and engage with the people you want to know and work with. Find them.
TAKE AWAY: To create that sweet (and these days, necessary) application video, seek out some help from that creative friend who does incredible projects. Thank him. (Thanks Ryan.)
TAKE AWAY: To create that sweet (and these days, necessary) application video, seek out some help from that creative friend who does incredible projects. Thank him. (Thanks Ryan.)
UNASKED INNOVATOR |
TOMS SHOES |
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TOMS. Santa Monica, CA. One Day Without Shoes. Apr. 2009
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A busy year for Adam, he spent the first half of '09 living in a house (on the beach) with 14 others (10 girls; 5 guys; 1 small room for the males) in Santa Monica, CA as an intern with TOMS Shoes - a for-profit company doing good and proving it's possible to do well at the same time.
"With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One." |
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One of Adam's coolest accomplishments while at TOMS?
This
Re-writing the TOMS mission statement.
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And his fourth best accomplishment while there?
and this.
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THOUGHTS: Don't be afraid to make your good idea known to the people who can help it happen.
TAKE AWAY: Still, when you are, accept that gentle nudge forward / push over the cliff from your friend, Larry. (Thanks Larry.)
TAKE AWAY: Still, when you are, accept that gentle nudge forward / push over the cliff from your friend, Larry. (Thanks Larry.)
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR |
BIOTOUR |
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BioTour On The '08 Campaign Trail. Pella, IA. Sept. 2008
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On the ‘08 Campaign Trail, Adam toured the country and lived aboard a 36' 1989 Bluebird school bus that he helped convert to run on recycled waste vegetable oil (SVO) and solar-paneled electrical power.
Working with 12 other young people as an environmental education non-profit called BioTour (short intro video |
at left), he went to colleges and high schools across the country, speaking with thousands of students and presenting pathways toward sustainability in renewable energy; our potential in green jobs; and perhaps most importantly, simply advocating for a more active and participatory democracy - a truly educated electorate.
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THOUGHTS: There are amazing individuals throughout the United States. And people are generally good, too. Also, vehicles that run on water do exist and CouchSurfing is an awesome way to see the world.
TAKE AWAY: When the opportunity to travel and live on a 36' 1989 Bluebird school bus running on grease and solar power inevitably comes, hop on. Then ask, "How can I help?"
TAKE AWAY: When the opportunity to travel and live on a 36' 1989 Bluebird school bus running on grease and solar power inevitably comes, hop on. Then ask, "How can I help?"
DREAMER |
LAST NIGHT'S DREAM |
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an online dream experiment into our collective unconscious.
During BioTour, Adam began a two year journey in remembering, appreciating, and journaling his dreams every single night. Yes, every single night.
The seeds of this fascinating personal experiment will soon "blossom into a collective garden," still being watered at www.LastNightsDream.org. Check it out and stay tuned! If you want to get involved, send him a message. |
www.LastNightsDream.org
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THOUGHTS: Dreams are wild.
TAKE AWAY: Make a regular practice of a good habit. Stick to it. Do it every day. Cross it off a Post-It Note if you have to (enjoy that too). Also, it's called a "practice"; forgive yourself for missing a day. Maybe start by taking your vitamins or reading just one chapter a day - it's amazing what progress can be made by chipping away at something little by little each day.
TAKE AWAY: Make a regular practice of a good habit. Stick to it. Do it every day. Cross it off a Post-It Note if you have to (enjoy that too). Also, it's called a "practice"; forgive yourself for missing a day. Maybe start by taking your vitamins or reading just one chapter a day - it's amazing what progress can be made by chipping away at something little by little each day.
VOLUNTEER |
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Honored to be featured in Voices for National Service' Nov. 2012 Photo of the Month.
Adam's post-college adventures began with his service in the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps.
He proudly served with team Red 6, rebuilding homes through Habitat for Humanity with the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina (and in Santa Fe, NM); tutoring in a 6th grade math class; and reading and playing with kindergartners in Biloxi, MS, among other awesome efforts.
He proudly served with team Red 6, rebuilding homes through Habitat for Humanity with the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina (and in Santa Fe, NM); tutoring in a 6th grade math class; and reading and playing with kindergartners in Biloxi, MS, among other awesome efforts.
Habitat for Humanity
Santa Fe, NM |
Jeff Davis Elementary School
Biloxi, MS 
Ms. Platt's Kindergarten Class
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Habitat for Humanity
New Orleans, LA 
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Retired Senior Volunteer Program
Great Falls, MT Adam was interviewed on the TV show, "Volunteers Make It Happen" with Rick Tryon in Great Falls, MT.
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THOUGHTS: I made life-long friends in my teammates on Red 6. I'm happy to have even celebrated some of their weddings in the years since.
TAKE AWAY: Serve.
TAKE AWAY: Serve.
LEADER |
AMERICORPS NCCC |
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Honored to be featured in Voices for National Service' Dec. 2012 Photo of the Month.
In the Fall 2011 at 25, Adam returned to serve with AmeriCorps NCCC again; this second time as the Team Leader of Gold 2.
Gold 2. Grand Teton National Park. Jackson, WY. Feb. 2012
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Now, logistically and financially responsible for ten 18-24 year olds living and working together 24/7 (for 10 months) while navigating a cross-country public service road trip (job description), Adam is glad to say he had yet another fantastic year of national service, personal and professional growth in leadership and management, and certainly challenge.
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In addition to the Congressional Award Gold Medal, he was honored with the President's Call to Service Lifetime Achievement Award from President Obama for more than 4,000 hours of public service.
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In Dec. 2012, Adam spoke with students at East Rockaway High School in NY about AmeriCorps - specifically, opportunities that national service can lead to and the doors it opens.
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Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento, CA
Commonweal Retreat Center, Bolinas, CA Salvation Army, Sacramento, CA |
Habitat for Humanity
Jackson, WY 
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Caldera Arts Camp
Sisters, OR 
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Danny Woo Community Garden, Seattle, WA
Siskiyou Field Institute, Selma, OR |
THOUGHTS: Look for that slight tinge of fear in yourself. Acknowledge and appreciate it for a moment. Now, see it as just another new opportunity to grow and challenge yourself - which is, all it is.
TAKE AWAY: It's also a compass. Turn that direction. Walk; don't run. No running at the pool. Right now. The clock of your life is not waiting for you. Don't worry, it doesn't wait for anyone else either. But you're not living their lives.
TAKE AWAY: It's also a compass. Turn that direction. Walk; don't run. No running at the pool. Right now. The clock of your life is not waiting for you. Don't worry, it doesn't wait for anyone else either. But you're not living their lives.
ADVOCATE |
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 Justice for Janitors. Coral Gables, FL. 2006. |
Greenberg credits his junior year of college (2005-'06), as one of his most formative.
As a student activist and one of the founding members of STAND, Adam spoke out for the rights of his campus janitors to form a union as they wished and earn a living wage. Later, he would be recognized as a 2007 Fellow of Young People For. But first, he was directly threatened with suspension, expulsion, loss of scholarship, and arrest by his alma mater. (You can enjoy his response to the Dean for one disciplinary proceeding here.) |
Randy Shaw dedicated an entire chapter (aptly titled "Yes We Cane") to this campaign at UMiami in his book, Beyond the Fields: Cesar Chavez, the UFW, and the Struggle for Justice in the 21st Century.
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A documentary called "Sí Se Puede" was made about the amazing effort. (Watch the trailer above or the full 34 min. directly below.)
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THOUGHTS: "Power concedes nothing without demand. It never did and it never will." - Frederick Douglass, 1857.
TAKE AWAY: You already know what's right; have its back. Yes, it will be scary.
TAKE AWAY: You already know what's right; have its back. Yes, it will be scary.
IN THE PRESENT
Skydiving Sacramento, Sept. 2011.
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Today, Adam enjoys a fair bit of table tennis, chess, live music, playing live music, good conversation, jumping out of planes (of the "perfectly good" variety, of course), chipping away at his mediocre math skills at KhanAcademy.org and brushing up on his Spanish at Duolingo.com every day, climbing trees, laughing, helping you build your website for free, and helping people around the world with small loans at Kiva.org.
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INVESTOR
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Speaking of Kiva, Adam's on a bit of a bucket list-esque mission to contribute to people in all 76 countries of Kiva's lending portfolio. As of July 2015: 78/81. Won't you join him?
More importantly, the Kiva "AmeriCorps" lending team, which he started in 2008, has now contributed nearly $30,000 to individuals and families in the developing world (and even in the US actually).
More importantly, the Kiva "AmeriCorps" lending team, which he started in 2008, has now contributed nearly $30,000 to individuals and families in the developing world (and even in the US actually).
TEACHER |
ENGLISH PROGRAM
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문정여자고등학교 English Club. Gwangju, South Korea. Mar. 2013
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Since Feb. 2013, Adam has been an English Teacher at two all girls' high schools and two elementary schools in Gwangju, South Korea with EPIK.
His students love to draw sketches of him; many of which are actually excellent. |
THOUGHTS: In the US, we like to laud Asian countries for their test scores in science and math. Teaching here at the high school level, I'm seeing that Korea's education system is actually still so very far off from that perfect score. I'm appreciating things about my education I just couldn't have known before.
TAKE AWAY: Learn how other countries (read: people) do things.
TAKE AWAY: Learn how other countries (read: people) do things.
Enjoy two short reflections on teaching High School English in South Korea, from the blog:
BEFORE & AFTER
more adorability on the baby photos page
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Adam Greenberg was born and raised in Wantagh, NY and loves living life not knowing what city he may be in 6 months out. He has two older sisters who always used to make him sit in the middle car seat, even as he grew bigger than them.
Adam is also (kind of) a published author, but is currently writing an actual book called Drink Water and Yawn! And he loves dogs. |
In addition to one day being both a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and living stable enough to rescue a big dog, Adam looks forward to his inevitable days in sweater vests and distinguished salt-and-peppered hair as an old professor with a Rubik's Cube on his desk. Theoretical brownie points to students who come in and at least try to solve it while chatting about nothing in particular, letting him feel still hip to the times.
DRINK WATER AND YAWN!
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"Adam, I want to read this book! Please, let me know when it comes out."
no spam. promise.
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ADAMGREENBERG.COM IS THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE |
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