DIGDEEP FieldNotes

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Holiday Gift Guide - DIGDEEP

THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US!

... And there is a MOUNTAIN of stuff to choose from. So we made you this gift guide with handcrafted presents that are not only beautiful and unique, but also help your fellow humans! 

These all come from our gift shop, where 100% (that’s right 100%!) of proceeds bring running water to American families through the Navajo Water Project. 

Check out our favorites!

1. Beaded Holiday Pen: $20

Everyone needs to write things. Grocery notes. College essays. Symphonies. Ya know, whatever strikes you. Why not write it in style that also gives back?! This cute little lanyard beaded pen is sold in a variety of colors and lets you remove the pen inside and switch to your fav pattern.

2. Drop Earrings: $25

Everyone knows that class and sophistication go hand in hand with drop earrings. These 3-inch beauties are made from traditional Navajo turquoise and shell, and will make you the bell of any ball. They come in either white and green or blue and maroon.

3. Ceramic Ornaments: $35

Nothing says the spirit of Christmas like ornaments that donate to those in need. Santa can’t even top that. But you can with these gorgeous hand painted ceramic ornaments. Even cooler than that, the etchings are made using horse hair. Mind blown.

4. Turquoise and Shell Bracelet: $40

What could go better with your turquoise and shell drop earrings than a turquoise and shell bracelet?! Honestly nothing. So grab these babies while you still can!

5. Hand Woven Baskets: $30 and Up

Can you believe that each of these baskets is hand woven? Talk about skill that deserves to be recognized! And what better way to recognize them than by using these cuties to hold all of your precious belongings! They vary in size and pattern, but not in beauty!

6. Homeland Apron: $40

It’s the holiday season, which means lots of eating and cooking! Instead of letting any food drop on the floor, honor it by letting it drop on this limited edition Navajo Homeland apron. It features the iconic image from the Blue Bird Flour bag.

7. Navajo Water Blanket: $299

Alrighty folks this is the big one, the holiday gift to end all others. It might be a bit of a splurge for some of you, but you couldn’t find a better way to splurge. Each one embodies the rich and vibrant culture of the Navajo Nation with a hangtag that includes a unique story . They’re also super comfy and made from pure virgin wool. Sold. 

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Update on the Smith Lake Well

Click here to read! http://bit.ly/2tHci86

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Traveling to D.C. for the Native Nations March was an incredible experience filled with love and solidarity. We were able to march with fellow Water Protectors through the streets of Washington as a way to show our continuing support of Standing Rock. This march, which included thousands of people from all over the country and world was accompanied by music and cultural sharing. There was also a teepee camp set up at the base of the Washington Monument, so people were able to see the presence of this nation's first peoples. The march was a staunch reminder that the fight for clean water, particularly for Indigenous peoples and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, is not over. I am grateful to have had this experience and to be able to share it with others.

-Isabella, Stanford University

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100% Model Update

DigDeep sends 100% of every public donation to a water project. Here’s the latest update on our 100% model: what it means and how it works!

Click here to review our 2015 financials!

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#BabyLisa

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This is Erin and Lucia, a couple of our new fellows at DigDeep! 

Erin was born Los Angeles and studied architecture in New York.She’s a dog person, listens to funky soul, and loves to cook.  

Lucia participates in obstacle course racing (ORC).She will be receiving a BA in Environmental Studies and Sustainability in the spring. She enjoys road trips, science fiction movies and eclectic/folk music.

These young and lively participants help make DigDeep a great place to be! 

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THIS COULD BE US BUT YOU PLAYIN’

You only have about 24 hours left to win a trip to LA to party with David Henrie and DIGDEEP! It’s only $5 to enter and you can score cool stuff like signed posters, tee shirts, script and more!

ENTER HERE: http://prizeo.com/davidhenrie

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This Is What It Looks Like to Live Without Water in America - Planet Experts

When most people imagine life without clean water, they think of places like Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia – communities that barely resemble their own. But at last count an estimated 1.7 million Americans live without clean, running water at home. The recent drought has only exacerbated the problem. In the past year an estimated Read More

Wonder what it looks like to live without running water in the US?

We often think of water as a matter of “haves” and “have-nots” – most families have reliable water access, some do not. But there’s another way to consider this situation: Most American families take water completely for granted, some do not. During this epic drought, we can turn to our neighbors to learn valuable lessons about the importance of water and the  lengths we should go to conserve it.

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On Parched Navajo Reservation, ‘Water Lady’ Brings Liquid Gold

Darlene Arviso delivers clean water to people on a reservation where one-third of the roughly 50,000 households lack it.

The New York Times wrote a wonderful piece on our favorite Water Lady, Darlene Arviso. Darlene provides a life necessity to her people, that they otherwise would have little access to, by delivering clean water to her community in an effort to make life easier for her people.

"They call her the 'water lady,' but she is much more than that. She listens to their desires and afflictions, then helps resolve them, if she can. She is psychiatrist, benefactor and best friend."

On average, Navajo families live on seven gallons of water per day. In drought-stricken California, the average is 362 gallons, according to a 2011 study sponsored by the state’s Department of Water Resources. The average American uses more than 400 gallons a day.

Darlene is committed to her cause and her people, she avoids leaving the reservation as much as she can. “‘I can’t,’ she said as she pulled in the mission’s parking lot mid-afternoon, the truck’s belly empty after 11 deliveries. ‘If I’m not here, who’s going to bring these people their water? Right now, I’m all they’ve got.’”

Darlene works everyday to provide the water to her people, driving her truck around the reservation delivering gallons of water to each home.

Darlene certainly is incredible and her work for for her people is inspiring.

But, there is more to be done. Become a part of DIGDEEP's water project on the Navajo Reservation and help us and Darlene ensure that every American has the water we all need to live with dignity.

http://www.navajowaterproject.org/

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Mindful #DroughtShaming...

Have you stumbled upon a neighbor wasting water unnecessarily during this historic drought, but been uncertain as to how to tell them without offending them and causing tension? Well, you’re in luck! Last week on NPR’s AirTalk, guest speaker, Amy Alkon, enlightened listeners by giving some very useful suggestions for kindly inspiring one’s neighbors to conserve precious H2O.

Here are some of Amy’s great tips:

•Be constructive when pointing out water waste. Starting the conversation by saying “You probably didn’t know …” will help prevent a defensive reaction.

•Print out an article about the drought to share with your neighbor. Not everybody is aware of how serious the drought is.

•Check your motivations. The most effective conversations are motivated by compassion. Your neighbors are likely to realize if your motives aren’t pure, and that could harm your relationship indefinitely.

•Write a nice note. It’s okay to be afraid of a potentially awkward conversation. Writing a note will give you a chance to choose your words as well as give your neighbors a chance to plan their response.

•Build a neighborly relationship. This approach requires a bit more effort. If you’ve never spoken to your neighbors before, you probably don’t want your first interaction to be over water waste.

•Post water-saving suggestions for the entire neighborhood in a common area. Community bulletin boards or telephone poles are a great place to start. This way, nobody has to feel singled-out.

•Use a web translator. As neighborhoods continue to become more diverse, language barriers are bound to arise. If you don’t trust the internet, and you’re really determined, there are plenty human translators on sites like Fiverr or even Fourerr.

During this time of drought it is essential that we work as a community to ensure that we are all pulling our own weight to conserve. Here at DIGDEEP, we especially like the tip of posting water-saving suggestions in a common, community area for many to see!

To listen to the whole segment: http://bit.ly/1A0Hexx

We want to hear from you! What are your thoughts on Amy’s suggestions? What’s your favorite tip? Let us know if you try these kind #DroughtShaming tactics and find positive results!

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Meet Katie, our new American Projects Fellow:

Katie plays the violin and is a whale enthusiast.

“I'm excited to work with DIGDEEP because I believe that the best way to care for our Earth is to care for the people who live on it. When people are being properly cared for, appropriate treatment of our world is a natural outcome. DIGDEEP embodies these ideas and works hard to see them played out both at home and abroad.” –Katie

Well put, Katie. We can’t wait to change American lives for the better with you.

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Meet Nick, our new Multimedia Fellow:

As a gifted musician, vegan cook and lucid dream enthusiast, Nick is super excited to be working for DIGDEEP. When asked why he gravitated towards the DIGDEEP mission, Nick stated, “I joined DIGDEEP because I believe that water is the most essential component of life and that it is all of our jobs to ensure every person has access to it. I have always been interested in human rights, and believe if we all work together we can achieve a more purposeful existence.”

We can’t wait to see all of the awesome multimedia treasures Nick will create for our clean water campaigns!

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Meet Kenzi, our new Storytelling Fellow:

A Diplomacy and World Affairs major at Occidental College, originally from Washington, DC Kenzi is super passionate about lacrosse, social justice (especially involving human rights!), learning, and traveling.

Kenzi was drawn to DIGDEEP because of the powerful lessons and experiences she gathered while studying abroad that, in her words, “showed me how important the inclusion of education and the empowerment of local leaders are to serving a cause. It was incredibly important to me that DIGDEEP works to provide sustainable assistance that improves the lives of wonderful people while also providing opportunities for individuals to become their own problem solvers, helping to initiate not only personal development but development that can jumpstart a whole community of advocators and leaders working together towards a shared goal. I am very proud and excited to work with an organization that gives attention to details like education and advocacy regarding something as important as our human right to water.” –Kenzi

Fun fact: Kenzi is related to the Wright brothers! So cool.

Welcome aboard, Kenzi! We are so excited to have you on the team.

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Meet Breigha, our new American Projects Fellow from Michigan:

Breigha is a freelance writer who loves to travel, read, and get lost in nature. When asked what drew her to DIGDEEP…

“I am thrilled to be working for DIGDEEP! I was looking for an organization that implements development and community sustainability in their projects and DIGDEEP does just that! Access to clean water is vital to thriving as a human being and I am excited to be involved in bringing this gift of life to over 370 Navajo in New Mexico! I am passionate about creating holistic development and sustainability in impoverished communities and believe access to clean water is the foundation for human stability.” –Breigha

We are so stoked to be working with you, Breigha.

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Our New Fellowship Team!

We are thrilled to introduce to you our 4 new, amazing DIGDEEP Fellows. Get to know them...

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Extra! Extra! Read Navajo Times!

Navajo Times did a remarkable article called “Making it Rain” about Darlene Arviso, St. Bonaventure’s  “water lady”, on her journey delivering #water to 250 Navajo homes without running water.  The article describes Digdeep’s involvement with the #Navajo community and our Navajo Water Project. To learn more and read about it:  http://document.li/XrQ8/