Half of his convoy was kidnapped on the way in. Now his car races out of Baghdad. 115 miles per hour. The car swerves. Flat tire. Blonde Ben Homan stands out.

“Stay in the car, Ben!” Someone yells at him.

It was April 2003 and the stretch of highway leading from Jordan to Baghdad was littered with the carcasses of abandoned cars. Alone in the car Homan experienced a feeling of peace and mental clarity in his purpose.

Benjamin Homan describes himself as a 'citizen of the world,' he believes that the world's political boundaries are artificial. Homan has worked for over 34 years with various Christian and foreign aid organizations to overcome these boundaries and connect with all people on a human level.

“God is not restricted to one nation or nationality,” Homan said.

Homan is the president and chief executive officer of Food for the Hungry, an international Christian relief organization that helps to physically and spiritually aid communities in 26 countries worldwide. Their main programs include child sponsorship, food production, water and sanitation, health care, agriculture, relief and church development.

Tim Grade has known Homan for nearly ten years. They met in China where Homan was studying at the Shanghai Normal College.

"Ben is internally driven," said Grade, "He has to be doing something all the time. He can't sit still."

As president of Food for the Hungry, Homan logs about a hundred days a year on the road, away from his wife and three children. He most frequently travels to Iraq, the Congo, Afghanistan and Sudan’s Darfur region.

Food for the Hungry was one of the first aid organizations on site in Indonesia after a devastating Tsumani struck in Nov. 2004. Homan said that being a witness to one of the world's most destructive natural disasters inspired and reassured him of the value of his work.

Together, Food for the Hungry and the City of Phoenix worked to bring immediate aid to the Indonesian community of Meulaboh within days of the tsunami devastating the country. Homan said that being located in Downtown Phoenix has made communication and collaboration with the city easier, and is proud of their relationship with Mayor Phil Gordon and Phoenix city leaders.

Homan has taught various communication courses at the University of Nebraska, Chaffey College, the University of California-Irvine and Biola University.

Homan believes that everyone teaches through their words and actions everyday. He considers his role as President to be a way of teaching people to connect and care for their fellow

Homan refers to his work as fulfilling responsibility to his fellow citizens of the world.

“It has been a privilege to affect so many people’s lives,” Homan said.

Today, as I read the front page of the Arizona Republic, I wished I was a resident in Florida, where my vote would make that much of a difference.

I polled for KAET-TV, Channel 8 a few weeks ago and it was the most interesting thing. I called Arizona registered voters and surveyed all parties. It was amazing to hear the McCain supporters say they believe their candidate will get us out of the financial crisis, keep American safe from terrorists, and be the best for working class people. But then, when I asked, “Regardless of the candidate you are supporting, who do you believe will actually win the presidency?”

"Obama," or, "hate to admit it… probably Obama." Not all of the McCain supporters believed that their candidate will win. Sure, enough, another article in the Arizona Republic headlines, “Obama neck and neck with McCain in Arizona.” The article mentions the Arizona State poll.

About 9% of Arizona registered voters are still undecided, and I talked to many of these voters. Could it be that McCain losing his own state to a Democratic candidate is causing voters to take a second guess before they vote?

It’s not only the fall season that is heating up in Arizona.

KAET polling was an assignment for my Journalism class, and although it was required, many students agree with me when I say, it was quite interesting. 

AZR Front Page:

http://www.newseum.org/media/dfp/pdf29/AZ_AR.pdf

Polling article:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2008/10/29/20081029asupoll1029.html

Results to my KAET polling: http://www.azpbs.org/horizon/poll/2008/10-28-08.htm 

Did you miss the Must-See-Monday speaker at the Cronkite School? No worries- here is what you missed!

Nick Quan, Vice President of Denise Resnik & Associates

The rocky path to his career prepared him for the Public Relations world. "I didn't even know what PR was when I was in college," he admits. The truth is, Nick Quan knows just about everything he needs to for his job. He started out as a broadcast major, gone print. Then went to sales, searching for some reasonable salary. His many jobs consisted of video game advertisement and freelance writing and photography. Now he does just about everything but event planning at his firm. "Take classes that you wouldn't think of taking," he offered. Quan suggested that students get educated not only about journalism, but also about the foundation and background of what area of PR they may end up.

The knowledgeable speaker gave the eager students a need-to-know forecast. "How are you guys going to contact your audiences? How are you going to find your audience? How will you define your audience?" Between bloggers, e-mail and selective news updates, Quan challenged the students to find innovative ways to contact their future audience in a more direct manner, because after all, that is where technology is headed.

If you want to know where the Public Relations industry is headed, come to the Cronkite School’s Must See Monday. Vice President of Resnik & Associates Nick Quan will be speaking in the Cronkite First Amendment Forum  to explain more about his industry and what he sees for PR in the future.

After his opening remarks, Quan will take questions from the attendees.

This event is co-sponsored by PRSSA.

Who: Nick Quan, VP at Denise Resnik & Associates

When: Monday, October 6 at 7pm

Where: First Amendment Forum, Cronkite School

 More information about Nick Quan can be found at http://www.resnikpr.com/team_team.htm

The local music scene is not only thriving, but also student friendly. The word “free” is cherished among campus. So without a doubt, you will be more than happy to learn that the “Know Your Neighbor” concert series commences next Tuesday! Kicking off the beginning of the events with their modern folk sound are your Phoenix neighbors, Try Me Bicycle. But if their jazzy feel isn’t enough incentive for you to come to this event, then use it to get to know your area better. I may feel at home on the streets of San Francisco, but Phoenix is unknown territory. This event is the perfect chance to find out what is going on Downtown Phoenix outside of campus. Get to know local venues, neighbors, and maybe a hip, hole-in-the-wall-coffee-shop-dweller that you’d never meet on campus. If you don’t believe me, ask the lead vocalist of Try Me Bicycle, “Phoenix is a very diverse city and each community has its own vibe and personality,” Andrew Naylor said. “We see a lot of the same faces and it sparks a kinship between our music and the downtown community.” Get a feel for Try Me Bicycle on their website- trymebicycle.com.

What: The “Know Your Neighbor” concert series featuring Try Me Bicycle
Where: Cibo, 603 N. Fifth Ave., Phoenix
When: 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23
Admission: Free!!!
For More Information: www.trymebicycle.com; or contact Marshall Terrill, Information Specialist, Arizona State University at Marshall.Terrill@asu.edu

Yours Truly,

Erin Browner

aka Browntown

Hey readers, get ready for some fresh perspective because I am a brand-spanking-new Blogger recruited from Arizona State University. I'm a freshman at the Downtown Phoenix Campus studying Journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. I am spontaneous and love to explore, so being from California makes coming to this city even more exciting. Can’t wait to get to know you all.
Watch for my next blog featuring information about the "Know Your Neighbor" free concert series starting September 23rd.

Yours Truly,
Erin Browner
aka Browntown 

You will be able to find me at Bar Smith tomorrow night, the 18+ club is known as the Peppermint Lounge. 21+ has an exclusive upstairs area that us underage goers are so curious to see. 130 E. Washington St., Phoenix. It's a guaranteed good time, especially for the fellas looking for a a girl, or two, or many to dance with.

Jamie Crosbie might not have planned to stay in Phoenix, but she's glad she's here now.

The former math teacher quit her job after realizing how little learning actually happens with politicians controlling the curriculum and decided she needed to say goodbye to Texas, too. She worked a few short gigs, packed up her husband and their things in a van and set off to find something better. After two months of traveling, her journey brought her to Phoenix. The 23 year old got a job as a Retirement Plan Administrator, found a nice little bungalow and parked the van.

One of her favorite downtown hangouts is the Roosevelt. "The Roosevelt is gorgeous inside, and with it's dark lighting and roses makes for a romantic hangout. Plus, they have really awesome pretzels," Jamie said.

She has since fallen in love with downtown, something that surprised her growing up in a town of 5000 people. She's keenly aware that downtown still needs some work, and concedes it needs more people.

When asked what she'd most like to improve on, Jamie realized she needed to find something that kept her up at night. Not an easy task, as her 4.0 GPA and the fact she graduated college in three years made her overqualified for everything. Oh, and she's really good at pleasing people, but what perfect person isn't?

Tyson Crosbie is on a mission. He wants to bring culture to downtown Phoenix.

The artist and photographer, who celebrated his 30 birthday this year, is having what he calls the best year of his life.

A resident since moving here with his wife for a job opportunity in July 2007, he refused to live anywhere but downtown. He admits he was a bit ignorant as to what exactly downtown was, but Crosbie ended up in a restored bungalow in the arts district that he's pretty happy with.

He'd like to see more development, more character and certainly less empty lots than currently make up too much of our urban core. While those empty lots are used at his favorite downtown events like First and Third Fridays, he knows it will happen eventually, it just needs a little prodding. "As an artist living practically on the doorstep of a burgeoning art scene was just the validation I needed for insisting on living downtown," Crosbie said.

Paisley Violin and Lux are tops on his list of coffee shops to work from and he's actively expanding his choices. Supporting local business is a goal of Crosbie's, as he and friends visit a different locally-owned establishment every Friday night. He and other creative types meet to swap stories, exchange ideas and share their lives with others of their ilk at an event dubbed Phoenix Friday Nights, a spin-off of Phoenix Friday Coffee, which started as two guys having coffee in the East Valley.

Check out Crosbie's work at tysoncrosbie.com.

Laurie Perez likes random conversations. Apparently downtown Phoenix is great for them.

Perez, who fancies Bar Smith on Saturdays because of the diversity, the ambiance and the upbeat mood, also lists the Firefly Room in the Phoenix Art Museum as one of her favorite downtown spots. Her advice is pretty solid, she's been here since Durant's and the PAM were the only reasons to be come down.

Once a year, Perez attends the tasty West of Western festival, an event that has grown dramatically over the years. 

While she may not live downtown, she makes plenty of time for the neighborhood. She recommends heading to First Fridays in groups and urges those new to the area to not "expect it to be Manhattan, the Gaslamp or the Haight", rather somewhere between. 

"It's [an] urban/get-down-to-business pulse meets trendy restaurants & sports, meets open-minded fringe culture and a young, diverse market," Perez said. "It's still a bit tattered 'round the edges yet it's future oriented.  It's definitely the coolest place to invest right now in the greater Phoenix region.

If you see her around, be sure to point her to the Roosevelt. She hasn't made it there quite yet. 

Matt Wynn dabbles in data. For a living.

The 24 year old lives and works downtown for the online arm of the local paper, picking a home here because, well, "the commute would kill me."

Wynn's wishes for Phoenix include more places to people watch, noting the options are so spread out right now that it's best to camp out at one spot all night. "Bar hopping isn't really an option," Wynn said.

His day job as Data Developer has allowed him to be close to all the downtown action, which often includes trips to Diamondbacks' games so his son can see his favorite player, Conor Jackson.

Down ladies. He's married.