Boston & Beyond
Subscribe
Sign up for email updates on new blog posts.
Server Snapshots
Support Server Not Servant
To encourage more blog posts, and expedite the publication of the Server Not Servant book, please consider a (non-deductible) contribution. Thank you.
The Book
Search
Archives
Massachusetts – Vote NO on Ballot Question #5
By: Patrick Maguire
Book Chapter: Rules of Engagement
Posted: 11/2/2024
After extensive research and observation, I believe that Saru Jayaraman, founder of ‘One Fair Wage,'(OFW) is a self-serving, disingenuous fraud who has been manipulating and exploiting (emotionally and financially), the same workers that she claims to be advocating for. She has created a sustained cottage industry, an annuity for herself and Senior Director, Fekkak Mamdough funded by donations from many unsuspecting ‘charges’ under the guise of being their savior. Sound familiar?!?
Saru Jayaraman is the driving force behind the Question 5 ballot initiative in Massachusetts to eliminate the tipped minimum wage.
According to IRS Form 990 (non-profit tax form) for 2022, Saru’s total compensation was $137,162 and Fekkak was paid $119,726 from OFW donors and ‘dues paying’ members, including servers and bartenders. Total ‘salaries, other compensation, and employee benefits’ paid were $2,149,714 from Total Revenue of $5,639.169. I’ll report back when I learn what Saru and Fekkak are currently paying themselves 2 years later… (Please message me if you know.)
Speaking from decades of experience in jobs including dishwasher, bartender, server, manager, owner, and consultant to restaurants, the grind, high failure rates, and thin profits (if any), are very real in an extremely difficult business. Let’s not make it even harder to survive.
It’s counterintuitive to think that raising the tipped minimum wage will actually have a net, detrimental impact on the bottom line for workers. However, I believe that is exactly what will happen if Question 5 passes in Massachusetts, and it will threaten the viability of many of our favorite, independently owned, Mom & Pop, full service, neighborhood restaurants that we love.
So why is Saru a fraud?
Saru’s Colors restaurant in NYC was supposed to be a model for restaurant operators to take the ‘high road’and thrive. It failed, twice…
As I tweeted on January 20, 2022:
Here are some excerpts from a blog post I published on 1/22/20 titled: ‘ROC United Reveals True Colors in Wake of Abrupt Closure of Colors Restaurant in NYC.’
When your ‘socially conscious’ mantra is embracing the ‘high road,’ you don’t blindside the leader of your restaurant via text, ever, never mind only 3 days before closing your business for good. And exploiting and abusing the very people you claim to be advocating for, is even worse than the ‘low road.’ It’s the gutter.
From the official ROC (Restaurant Opportunities Center) website, now ‘One Fair Wage.’:
TAKING THE HIGH ROAD – A HOW-TO GUIDE FOR SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANT EMPLOYERS
What is the High Road?
Employers defined the “high road” as employment practices that support workers and unleash their loyalty, creativity, and productivity to make the restaurant successful. High-road employers emphasized that the benefits of increased productivity of invested long-term workers and the reduced cost of employee turnover outweigh the short-term costs of high-road practices.
While specific practices varied, these “high-road” policies fell into the following three areas:
1. providing livable wages
2. maintaining a healthy workplace through paid sick days, vacation, or health insurance; and
3. creating career ladders for employees through training and internal promotions policies
From early on, ROC United set themselves up to fail because the foundation they ‘built’ (I should say, ‘sold’) their business model and ideals on is fraudulent. They don’t practice what they preach and lead by example. With the shameful closing of Colors restaurant, they have zero credibility.
Shortly before Colors restaurant reopened after a 3-year closure, Eater NY reported, “It’s a comeback attempt for the 70-seat restaurant at 178 Stanton Street, between Clinton and Attorney streets. After the September 11 attacks, surviving Windows of the World employees regrouped and organized to build Restaurants Opportunity Center United, one of the country’s most important restaurant labor organizations. They also opened Colors, a restaurant intended to embody their ideals of fair pay, diversity, and employee equity. But while ROC and its advocacy took off, Colors never mastered the balance of running a profitable business with a nonprofit heart. Former employees have filed lawsuits, and many claimed that their fair wages weren’t paid on time.”
The 12/11/19 Eater piece also quoted Colors’ leader, Chef Sicily Sewell-Johnson just before the reopening:
Sewell-Johnson also is working to regain New Yorkers’ trust. “Colors did the community a disservice. We weren’t open for three years. We were inconsistent and let them down,” she says. “Then, among peers, ROC challenged the [industry’s] sub-minimum wage and tipping policies, but we weren’t co-laboring to make the changes. We have to repair those relationships to be taken seriously.”
There was no mention of Colors as a pop-up or “test drive.”
It’s ironic that the entity that prides itself as the standard-bearer of loyalty, equality, and trust betrayed one of their top leaders and advocates in a disgraceful fashion. They didn’t even have the intelligence and courage to meet with Sicily and her team in-person to tell them they were closing and why. And it gets worse…
Excerpts from Eater NY (1/21/20):
After only one month of service, the surviving Windows on the World employee restaurant Colors has closed yet again. Head chef Sicily Sewell-Johnson announced the closure Friday — saying that the restaurant’s owner, labor nonprofit Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, had suddenly pulled the plug.
And in another twist for the embattled restaurant, the chef tells Eater that ROC United is currently not letting her release the more than $2,000 that she raised over the weekend through Venmo to provide “a cushion” to staffers who have just lost their jobs. It’s another bump in what she says has been a “crazy” time with ROC, which she alleges has mismanaged the restaurant from the beginning.
“I’ll never look at this organization the same,” she says.
Management, though, was “a mess” from the beginning, she now says. Structures such as payroll, health insurance, and worker’s compensation were not in place, she says. Sewell-Johnson alleges that she sometimes paid vendors for food and other products out-of-pocket and filed for reimbursement, despite multiple requests for ROC to put a business debit card into place. When her finger got injured during business, she paid for care herself because the nonprofit never gave her health insurance that it had promised, she alleges.
Plus, ROC did not properly tell locals that Colors was open for business, Sewell-Johnson says. The restaurant was still showing up as closed on platforms such as Google and Yelp until the last week of business, she says.
“It was already a mess,” she says. “There were no systems. There was no structure.”
But business was also difficult because ROC did not seem committed to figuring out a financial plan that worked, she says. The nonprofit touted how it pays servers a $15 minimum wage plus tips, an extension of its ongoing fight to end the tipped minimum wage.
In practice, though, trying to pay $15 plus tips while creating an equitable pay structure throughout the restaurant created some bumps, Sewell-Johnson says. Because pooling tips is illegal, Colors also paid its kitchen staff above minimum wage. Entry-level positions like a dishwasher made $18.30 an hour, and with taxes, the restaurant ended up paying much more for labor than most restaurants in the city.
Sewell-Johnson wanted to start considering what other models would work, such as eliminating tipping, but she faced opposition from ROC. Ultimately, she says, paying a dishwasher a high wage doesn’t matter if the restaurant closes and the dishwasher can’t leave with additional skills.
“It’s easy for a lot of people to say — everyone deserves better, and this is what you should do,” she says. “It’s hard to find the middle to make that work.” [Amen.]
The New York Post, who broke the story on 1/19/20, quoted Sewel-Johnson, “…systems weren’t in place to make Colors succeed, when this place is the epitome of what ROC stands for.” BINGO. In other words, if you don’t practice what you preach, you have absolutely zero credibility. Remember, this comment is coming from a former ambassador of ROC.
The Post also stated, The chef said she was blindsided late Thursday when Sekou Siby, a former employee of Windows of the World and ROC’s executive director, informed her the plug was being pulled. Johnson was informed by Siby in a text that the eatery would close Sunday since funding could no longer be provided.
Reached by The Post for comment, Siby denied Sunday that the restaurant was closing, claiming the latest opening was always intended as a “test drive.”
“It’s not a closing, per se, but we are assessing the financial situation,” Siby said. “the last six weeks was a test drive, to analyze what is possible.” [Turns out, that was also bullshit…]
Back to Question 5 in MA. If an independent, Mom & Pop restaurant closes because they can’t survive the expenses imposed on them by a law created by a lobby group (who also failed attempting to operate a full service restaurant under the same model), the mission fails and everyone loses – the workers, the owners, and the ‘high road’ lobbyist. And the lobbying group refills their coffers with donations to sustain their ‘cottage industry’ and compensation and repeats the cycle of ‘advocacy.’
The current business model for full service, independent, Mom & Pop restaurants in America is far from perfect for workers and owners alike. And the issues are much more layered and complicated than the simplistic solutions bandied about on social media, “Be like Europe, NO Tipping!!” is a common refrain. Danny Meyer thought the US was ready to ‘disrupt’ the social contract of tipping in America when he eliminated tipping at his NYC restaurants and raised his prices to cover higher wages. The ‘movement’ didn’t work and Meyer abandoned the initiative.
On 5/3/18 I published: Saru Jayaraman, Fekkak Mamdouh, ROC United Leadership & Members: Is ONE FAIR WAGE really FAIR for All? Tip Credit & Tipped Minimum Wage-Part 1
Excerpt from that post:
Theoretically, philosophically, and morally there is rationale to support why the idea of eliminating tipping makes sense. However, the practical implications of imposing an experimental ‘solution’ on a culture unwilling to embrace the change will adversely impact the earnings of many servers, and simultaneously threaten the survival of independent, ‘Mom and Pop’ restaurants. For those reasons, I am going to propose that tipped minimum wages remain, and are set as a percentage of rising full minimum wage amounts. Further, I believe that the simplistic sounding, ONE FAIR WAGE ‘solution’ to the ‘living wage’ problem is far more complicated than ROC United and others make it sound. One size does not fit all. Legislation that might increase the pay for servers averaging $9/hr at a rural, national chain in the Midwest could simultaneously and significantly reduce the earnings of servers working at independent, full service restaurants in American cities where servers are earning a lot more than even ‘full’ minimum wage. I believe that we need to encourage local legislators to be more creative rather than imposing rigid, cookie cutter ‘solutions’ that just don’t work. I’d like to see ROC, NRA, RWA, RAISE Up (and other advocacy groups) consider a framework/compromise that is in the best interest of the diverse group of local workers, restaurants, and the customers they serve. We need more tiered solutions based on revenue, # of stores, # of employees, benefits provided, type of service, geography, median income, etc.
Shirley Leung, business reporter for the Boston Globe on 10/31/24:
“I just have one question about the ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage of tipped workers to $15 an hour: Why does it even matter what I think?
I don’t own a restaurant. I don’t own a salon. I don’t pretend to know how to run these businesses. So why do I, a random voter, get to tell these small business owners how they should pay their workers?
C’mon, this is not a good use of democracy.
We have to ask ourselves, how is it that, every election cycle, we allow special interest groups to make an end-run on our legislative process? We already have representative government. Voters cast ballots for the people we want to make policy decisions on our behalf.
A New York-based advocacy group, One Fair Wage, is pushing for the measure as part of a national campaign to change how tipped workers are paid. The proposal would get rid of the $6.75-an-hour minimum wage currently in place for tipped workers in Massachusetts, such as servers, bartenders, hairdressers, and manicurists, and replace it with the state’s standard $15-an-hour minimum wage.
I’m voting no on Question 5 because I don’t think many workers even want this. The concept is particularly perilous at restaurants, where it pits front-of-the-house workers, who are tipped, against the back-of-the-house workers who typically are not. Caught in the middle are restaurant owners who say it will drive up costs, forcing them to raise prices and reduce staff so they won’t go broke trying to comply with the law.
Proponents of Question 5 argue the measure will create a more equitable pay structure. The matter, they say, is about standing up for worker rights. And voters have to because the people who will benefit the most — lower-paid workers, many of them immigrants, from busboys to dishwashers — are too vulnerable to speak up.
I maintain it’s a bad idea to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to sectors that are still recovering from the turmoil of the pandemic and its aftermath.
And too often, ballot questions make convincing campaign rhetoric but terrible law. A similar measure to boost wages of tipped workers was passed by voters in Portland, Maine, in 2016, but was undone a year later by the state legislature.”
I have read as much as possible from ‘all sides’ of the Question 5 debate. Thoughtful, sustainable solutions to the restaurant industry’s problems are going to require much more significant study and collaboration by everyone impacted, not half-assed, self-serving solutions. This legislation is misguided.
#NoOnQuestion5
Permalink | Posted in Rules of Engagement | No Comments »
#WalkingBoston – A Marathon in Every Boston Neighborhood: Roslindale Part 2
By: Patrick Maguire
Book Chapter: Introduction
Posted: 8/29/2024
Welcome to #WalkingBoston. To learn about the inspiration, mission, goals, and updates, please see the #WalkingBoston launch blog post.
The total official, verified distance of the first 16 Boston walks in Eastie, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, South End, Chinatown, Leather District, DTX, Financial District, North End, West End + Waterfront, Beacon Hill (including the Common and Public Garden), Roxbury, and Roslindale Part 1 = 211.95 miles. Almost every walk is a minimum of a half marathon, 13.1 miles and is verified using the MapMyWalk app. A full marathon will be covered in each neighborhood that is large enough, and small neighborhoods are combined. The goal for the entire mission is to cover at least 1,000 miles. ‘Bonus Walks,’ like the Harbor Islands, Night Walks on main streets, Urban Wilds, and destinations I missed (please tell me) will be included after walking every Boston neighborhood.
The #WalkingBoston journey continues on Friday, 8/30/24. Breakfast and map review begin at 7:15 at Harry’s All American at 1420 Centre Street in Rozzie. All are welcome to join, even just for breakfast or a portion of the walk. The weather looks tremendous, sunny with a high of 73, according to Chris Lambert at 7News Boston…
And, more importantly a LOW dew point at 50, says Cindy Fitzgibbon at WCVB Boston:
Contact me at patrick@servernotservant.com or text/call 617-510-5682 to meet up. Here is the western portion of Roslindale that we will be exploring:
[Please Note: A post-walk summary, reflections, distance, and pics/videos from this walk will be added to the end of this blog post.]
As always, please send me ‘must see’ sights from the map above, including ‘hidden gems,’ art, nature, parks, murals, fountains, history, architecture, Mom & Pop #SmallBiz, etc. I love getting suggestions in advance to include while mapping out the walks. The course will be finalized on Thursday, 8/29/2224. Please email patrick@servernotservant.com or comment at the end of this post with specific, ‘can’t miss’ suggestions.
If inspired by #WalkingBoston, please consider a donation to Stride for Stride, a partner of #WalkingBoston. Stride for Stride is a non-profit running organization that buys race bibs for immigrant, BIPOC, and low-income runners – the goal is to make races more accessible, inclusive, and diverse for everyone. Stride for Stride founder, Tom OKeefe, aka @BostonTweet, “Our logo signifies equality. It’s simple, bold, and shows that you support running for all. Our goal is a simple concept too, but one that changes lives. Having a race to strive for keeps you focused and healthy, while crossing the finish line is pure joy and empowering in both sport and life – it proves that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Never give up!”
To celebrate my February birthday, I dedicated a blog post to raise money for Stride for Stride after Jorge Rosales donated a kidney to save SFS founder, Tom O’Keefe’s life: ‘Life and Death,’ hero, and badass are often overused exaggerations. None of those terms are embellishment when describing the evolution of the relationship between Tom O’Keefe and Jorge Rosales. Tom provided Jorge an opportunity with Stride for Stride. And Jorge saved Tom’s life. That’s badass!! And how that came to be is an amazing, awe-inspiring story. Please read the full story here.
Donations inspired by #WalkingBoston can be made to Stride for Stride by clicking here.
Now that I have a completed more than 7 marathons, I’m in the process of seeking sponsorships and collaborations with local companies and individuals, and I’m wide open to all creative ideas to raise money. Donations to Stride for Stride are tax deductible.
Lastly, folks have also reached out asking how they could sponsor/support my #WalkingBoston mission and expedite the publication of my #ServerNotServant book advocating for service industry workers and fellow humans. A grassroots fundraiser has been set up to keep me walking and writing. Donations can be made here.
Please remember to check back after the 8/30 walk for reflections on the day, along with a photo album in chronological order of the trek. Thank you to everyone following, supporting, and sharing the multiple missions of #WalkingBoston – A Marathon in Every Boston Neighborhood. I hope to see you on the road…
Cheers-Patrick
Permalink | Posted in Introduction | No Comments »
#WalkingBoston – A Marathon in Every Boston Neighborhood: Roslindale Part 1
By: Patrick Maguire
Book Chapter: Human-to-Human Service
Posted: 6/26/2024
Welcome to #WalkingBoston. To learn about the inspiration, mission, goals, and updates, please see the #WalkingBoston launch blog post.
The total official, verified distance covered on the first 15 Boston walks in Eastie, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, South End, Chinatown, Leather District, DTX, Financial District, North End, West End + Waterfront, Beacon Hill (including the Common and Public Garden), and Roxbury = 198.13 miles. Almost every walk is a minimum of a half marathon, 13.1 miles and is verified using the MapMyWalk app. A full marathon will be covered in each neighborhood that is large enough, and small neighborhoods are combined. The goal for the entire mission is to cover at least 1,000 miles. ‘Bonus Walks,’ like the Harbor Islands, Night Walks on main streets, and destinations I missed (please tell me) will be included after walking every Boston neighborhood.
The #WalkingBoston journey continues on Friday, 6/26/24. Breakfast and map review begin at 7:15 at Blue Star at 11 Corinth Street in Rozzie. All are welcome to join, even just for breakfast or a portion of the walk. The weather looks great, sunny with a high of 78, and a LOW dew point, according to Jacob Wycoff at WBZ Boston:
Friday is the ‘Winner’ this week:
Contact me at patrick@servernotservant.com or text/call 617-510-5682 to meet up. Here is the eastern portion of Roslindale that we will be exploring:
[Please Note: A post-walk summary, reflections, distance, and pics/videos from this walk will be added to the end of this blog post.]
As always, please send me ‘must see’ sights from the map above, including ‘hidden gems,’ art, nature, parks, murals, fountains, history, architecture, Mom & Pop #SmallBiz, etc. I love getting suggestions in advance to include while mapping out the walks. The course will be finalized on Thursday, 6/27. Please email patrick@servernotservant.com or comment at the end of this post with specific, ‘can’t miss’ suggestions.
If inspired by #WalkingBoston, please consider a donation to Stride for Stride, a partner of #WalkingBoston. Stride for Stride is a non-profit running organization that buys race bibs for immigrant, BIPOC, and low-income runners – the goal is to make races more accessible, inclusive, and diverse for everyone. Stride for Stride founder, Tom OKeefe, aka @BostonTweet, “Our logo signifies equality. It’s simple, bold, and shows that you support running for all. Our goal is a simple concept too, but one that changes lives. Having a race to strive for keeps you focused and healthy, while crossing the finish line is pure joy and empowering in both sport and life – it proves that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Never give up!”
To celebrate my February birthday, I dedicated a blog post to raise money for Stride for Stride after Jorge Rosales donated a kidney to save SFS founder, Tom O’Keefe’s life: ‘Life and Death,’ hero, and badass are often overused exaggerations. As restaurateur/author and James Beard Award winner, Gabrielle Hamilton noted in her memoir, “badass is a juvenile aspiration.” Especially as a self-imposed moniker. None of those terms are embellishment when describing the evolution of the relationship between Tom O’Keefe and Jorge Rosales. Tom provided Jorge an opportunity with Stride for Stride. And Jorge saved Tom’s life. That’s badass!! And how that came to be is an amazing, awe-inspiring story. Please read the full story here.
Donations inspired by #WalkingBoston can be made to Stride for Stride by clicking here.
Now that I have a completed more than 7 marathons, I’m in the process of seeking sponsorships and collaborations with local companies and individuals, and I’m wide open to all creative ideas to raise money. Donations to Stride for Stride are tax deductible.
Lastly, folks have also reached out asking how they could sponsor/support my #WalkingBoston mission and expedite the publication of my #ServerNotServant book advocating for service industry workers and fellow humans. A grassroots fundraiser has been set up to keep me walking and writing. Donations can be made here.
Please remember to check back after the 6/26 walk for reflections on the day, along with a photo album in chronological order of the trek. Thank you to everyone following, supporting, and sharing the multiple missions of #WalkingBoston – A Marathon in Every Boston Neighborhood. I hope to see you on the road…
Cheers-Patrick
Permalink | Posted in Human-to-Human Service | No Comments »
#WalkingBoston – A Marathon in Every Boston Neighborhood: Roxbury Part 2
By: Patrick Maguire
Book Chapter: Human-to-Human Service
Posted: 4/17/2024
Welcome to #WalkingBoston. To learn about the inspiration, mission, goals, and updates, please see the #WalkingBoston launch blog post.
The total official, verified distance covered on the first 14 Boston walks in Eastie, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, South End, Chinatown, Leather District, DTX, Financial District, North End, West End + Waterfront, Beacon Hill (including the Common and Public Garden), Roxbury Part 1, and Roxbury Bonus = 184.51 miles. Almost very walk is a minimum of a half marathon, 13.1 miles and is verified using the MapMyWalk app. A full marathon will be covered in each neighborhood that is large enough, and small neighborhoods are combined. The goal for the entire mission is to cover at least 1,000 miles. ‘Bonus Walks,’ like the Harbor Islands, Night Walks on main streets, and destinations I missed (please tell me) will be included after walking every neighborhood.
The #WalkingBoston journey continues on Friday, 4/19/24. The walk covering the eastern half of Roxbury, leaves the Liberty Diner at 1003 Mass Ave at 7:45ish. Early bird breakfast/coffee, stretching, and map/course review begin at 7am. The weather forecast looks good, cloudy, but no rain with a high of 55. All are welcome to join, even just for breakfast and/or a portion of the walk. Here is the half of Roxbury we will be exploring:
[Please Note: A post-walk summary, reflections, distance, and pics/videos from this walk will be added to the end of this blog post.]
As always, please send me ‘must see’ sights from the map above, including ‘hidden gems,’ art, nature, parks, murals, fountains, history, architecture, Mom & Pop #SmallBiz, etc. I love getting suggestions in advance to include while mapping out the walks. The course will be finalized on Thursday, 4/18. Please email patrick@servernotservant.com or comment at the end of this post with specific, ‘can’t miss’ suggestions.
If inspired by #WalkingBoston, please consider a donation to the following: Stride for Stride is a partner of #WalkingBoston. Stride for Stride is a non-profit running organization that buys race bibs for immigrant, BIPOC, and low-income runners – the goal is to make races more accessible, inclusive, and diverse for everyone. Stride for Stride founder, Tom OKeefe, aka @BostonTweet, “Our logo signifies equality. It’s simple, bold, and shows that you support running for all. Our goal is a simple concept too, but one that changes lives. Having a race to strive for keeps you focused and healthy, while crossing the finish line is pure joy and empowering in both sport and life – it proves that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Never give up!”
To celebrate my recent birthday, I dedicated a blog post to raise money for Stride for Stride after Jorge Rosales donated a kidney to save founder, Tom O’Keefe’s life: ‘Life and Death,’ hero, and badass are often overused exaggerations. As restaurateur/author and James Beard Award winner, Gabrielle Hamilton noted in her memoir, “badass is a juvenile aspiration.” Especially as a self-imposed moniker. None of those terms are embellishment when describing the evolution of the relationship between Tom O’Keefe and Jorge Rosales. Tom provided Jorge an opportunity with Stride for Stride. And Jorge saved Tom’s life. That’s badass. And how that came to be is an amazing, awe-inspiring story. Please read the full story here.
Donations inspired by #WalkingBoston can be made to Stride for Stride by clicking here.
Now that I have a completed more than 7 marathons, I’m in the process of seeking sponsorships and collaborations with local companies and individuals, and I’m wide open to all creative ideas to raise money. Donations to Stride for Stride are tax deductible.
Lastly, folks have also reached out asking how they could sponsor/support my #WalkingBoston mission and expedite the publication of my #ServerNotServant book advocating for service industry workers and fellow humans. A grassroots fundraiser has been set up to keep me walking and writing. Donations can be made here.
Please remember to check back after the 4/19 walk for reflections on the day, along with a photo album in chronological order of the trek. Thank you to everyone following, supporting, and sharing the multiple missions of #WalkingBoston – A Marathon in Every Boston Neighborhood. I hope to see you at breakfast and/or on the road…
Cheers-Patrick
Permalink | Posted in Human-to-Human Service | No Comments »
‘Life & Death’ and Karma, Running Stride for Stride in Boston
By: Patrick Maguire
Book Chapter: Human-to-Human Service
Posted: 2/9/2024
I usually keep my birthday private, but this year I’m celebrating it (February 10) by inspiring donations to a Boston non-profit that is extremely important to me, Boston and beyond, and the lives of many people in our community, Stride for Stride.
You find out people’s true colors by their consistent actions over time, not just by what they say, but by what they do. I’ve known Tom O’keefe, aka @BostonTweet for close to 20 years. During that time, I’ve come to know Tom as a very humble, authentic person, generous of heart and spirit.
‘Life and Death,’ hero, and badass are often overused exaggerations. As restaurateur/author and James Beard Award winner, Gabrielle Hamilton noted in her memoir, “badass is a juvenile aspiration.” Especially as a self-imposed moniker. None of those terms are embellishment when describing the evolution of the relationship between Tom O’Keefe and Jorge Rosales. Tom provided Jorge an opportunity with Stride for Stride. And Jorge saved Tom’s life. That’s badass. And how that came to be is an amazing, awe-inspiring story.
Tom O’Keefe founded Stride for Stride after being gifted the entrance fee to participate in the vaunted Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod, MA. I’ve run Falmouth, and I know the joy and excitement.
Tom O’Keefe:
“The Falmouth Road Race was the first race I ever ran, and it changed my life. Not only did it help me become healthier, but it also reminded me that I can accomplish anything – to not quit when things get tough.
After Falmouth I was hooked on running. The roar of the crowd, the competition of passing runners, and the thrill of crossing the finish line made me feel like a superstar – an empowering feeling that everyone should experience.
I was lucky enough to be gifted an entry into that first race. Without that opportunity I might not have ever started running. Upon registering for my second race, I quickly discovered that races are expensive – really expensive – an expense that many can’t afford. And that is the core mission of Stride for Stride.
Stride’s goal is to give everyone an equal opportunity to run. If you want to run, but can’t afford to race, then we’ll purchase the bib for you. There’s no reason why money should prevent you from getting to the starting line, especially when crossing the finish line could change your life.
Our logo signifies equality. It’s simple, bold, and shows that you support running for all. Our goal is a simple concept too, but one that I firmly believe can change lives. Having a race to strive for keeps you focused and healthy, while crossing the finish line proves that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Never give up.” -Tom via Stride for Stride
After attending a Stride for Stride event at The Trackhouse – Tracksmith at 285 Newbury Street in Boston on 12/10/2022, I posted on Facebook:
Very moving, inspirational morning at The Trackhouse today listening to the stories of #love #laughter #friendship & #teamwork from the Stride for Stride family. The #community they have built and are strengthening is awesome. #Boston #Running #Gratitude #WalkingBoston
I knew I experienced and felt something very special in the making that day, but none of us could have predicted the extent of the love and life-giving, dynamic forces of humanity blossoming in that room.
Tom shared some information with Runner’s World in an article published on May 13,2023:
Tom was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in 2020. For the last three years, O’Keefe has suffered from a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as they should, which can lead to other health problems such as heart disease and stroke.
In May 2022, O’Keefe was informed he needed a transplant as his condition was rapidly declining. Right away, his cousin Colleen volunteered to donate her kidney since they have the same blood type. After undergoing months of extensive testing, including MRI, CT scans, X-rays, and blood tests, Colleen was rejected as a donor in March. The news was devastating to O’Keefe, but the feeling didn’t last long.
The next day, [Jorge] Rosales called O’Keefe and informed him that he and another runner on the Stride for Stride team signed up to undergo testing as his kidney donors.
“It was this amazing rollercoaster of being very sad and low to be being elated,” O’Keefe said. “I think a lot of normal people would be nervous and apprehensive, but [Jorge] is excited and it shows what an incredible, kind person he is.”
In March, Rosales began the testing process, which involved six months of appointments with physicians, social workers, and psychologists that ranged from 30 minutes to four hours at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. In October, when he received the much-anticipated phone call from the medical team informing him he was a match, Rosales couldn’t wait to tell O’Keefe.
“I felt tears coming out,” Rosales said. “It was one of the best news that I can remember in my life.”
O’Keefe admitted he was nervous to accept the call from Rosales, worried that he’d also be rejected as a donor. If Rosales wasn’t a match, O’Keefe would need to seek out another kidney donor, which can take up to eight months, or go on dialysis. When Rosales told him the good news, O’Keefe felt immediate relief.
“Kidney disease relies on the kindness of somebody else. The kindness from Jorge to save someone’s life makes it extremely emotional,” O’Keefe said. “Words are tough to describe the gratitude and love we have for Jorge and all donors that make this sacrifice.”
On February 2, 2024, a bit more than 3 weeks after the successful kidney transplant, Tom O’Keefe self-published a book about his journey over the last few years.
‘Kindness – How a Simple Act of Kindness Can Save Your Life’
About the Book : On January 10, 2024, Tom O’Keefe received a life saving kidney donation from his Stride for Stride teammate, Jorge Rosales. This book is the story of how being kind and empathetic to others gave Tom the greatest gift of his life.
#WalkingBoston is a project I launched in the spring of 2022 to walk a marathon in every Boston neighborhood, a half marathon at a time. One of primary missions of Walking Boston is to raise money for Stride for Stride. After witnessing the breadth and depth of the love and the positive, life-changing impact of Stride for Stride, I am doubling down on my fundraising commitment and just increased the #WalkingBoston GoFundMe goal to $10k. This is a grassroots effort to inspire people to ‘step up’ and help Tom and his team change people’s lives, one small donation at a time. To date, my #WalkingBoston journey has covered 177.47 miles. With bonus walks around Boston, my goal is to cover 1,000 miles total. You can follow the progress by subscribing to this blog. All are welcome to join the walks that will take a few more years to complete. Yes, a ‘marathon’, not a sprint. And I’m loving the adventure of exploring and showcasing Boston’s neighborhoods.
I communicated with Tom this week. Both he and Jorge are recovering so well that they are looking forward to running the Boston Athletic Association 5k together on April 13, 2024, just 3 months post-transplant. Incredible.
I watched a beautiful, emotional video of Jorge and Tom hugging in the hospital 4 days after the surgery. Jorge’s caption, “With my friend, Thomas O’Keefe a great human being who is now my brother. You deserve this and more Tom, you are the best.”
Also from Jorge via Runner’s World: “I hope more people will realize in the future that we can help each other,” Rosales said. “There’s no doubt that we can do good for other people without expecting anything back.”
This pic was posted on the Stride for Stride Facebook Page on October 8, 2023 with the caption below it from Tom.
“Please meet my superhero, Jorge. I met Jorge at the 2019 Cambridge Half Marathon when he ran his first race with Team Stride for Stride. At the time I didn’t know that I would soon be diagnosed with CKD and I also didn’t know that I would soon need a kidney transplant. And, little did I know that this great and kind man that I just met would save my life. For the past seven months Jorge has been going through extensive testing to see if he’s a match. Yesterday we received the call that he’s 100% compatible. Jorge is my superhero. Kidney donors are real life superheroes – they save lives.
In November, Jorge and I will run the BAA Half Marathon with Team Stride for Stride, and then in December we’ll have the transplant surgery. [postponed to 1/10/24] Once I recover, we’ll run the NYC Marathon and Boston Marathon; donor and recipient together. We want to show that kidney donors can and will continue to have a long and active life. And, I want to give hope to other CKD patients and kidney recipients that you too can run the world’s greatest marathons.
Please consider becoming a superhero to someone who needs a kidney. There are thousands of people who are waiting for a lifesaving kidney in every major US city. In Boston, start by Googling “BIDMC transplant” or “MGH transplant” to donate to someone on the list – you can be an altruistic donor to someone you don’t know. If you have any questions just message me. [Tom’s email: tom@bostontweet.com]
I would also like to thank my cousin, Colleen for all the months she spent testing to be a donor, my Stride teammates, Jess & Karen who started the process with BIDMC, and an anonymous donor who did the same.
A huge thanks to Bridget (Tom’s wife) for all the love and support you’ve given me during these times – I’m sorry for all the stress. I love you. And, thank you to my wonderful friends and teammates on Stride for Stride – you saved me. Te amo mucho. 
– Tom
Final message from Tom: “Anyone with two healthy kidneys has the power to save a life through an act of kindness – it’s our superpower. Please consider becoming a kidney donor to someone you know or someone on dialysis.”
This is the ultimate ‘Human to Human Service.’ Thank you, Jorge and Tom, your families, and Stride for Stride team for your incredible inspiration. You are literally changing the world, and I am in awe of your selflessness and positive impact.
Please consider even a small, a tax-deductible donation to Stride for Stride via my #WalkingBoston Fundraiser Link. And please consider sharing the link if inspired to do so.
I hope to see many of you on the roads, trails, and paths of Boston.
Extremely Grateful-Patrick
“Putting things off is the biggest waste of life: it snatches away each day as it comes, and denies us the present by promising the future. The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow, and loses today. You are arranging what lies in Fortune’s control, and abandoning what lies in yours. What are you looking at? To what goal are you straining? The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately.” -SENECA
Permalink | Posted in Human-to-Human Service | No Comments »