Let's commit to just one thing . . .

 

 

The arrival of a New Year always brings us to a place of reflection. 

 

At one point during this time period, we start to think about what we need to do better in the incoming year. We start to make all sorts of promises to ourselves. 

 

We commit to lose weight.

We commit to spend less.

We commit to see our friends more.

We commit to not worry so much.

We commit to laugh more.

We commit to do more yoga.

We commit to go to church or synagogue more.

We commit and commit and commit . . .

 

Often, we kick things off to a new start with great energy (think how busy the gyms are in January), but mostly we lose our 'steam' and 'focus' sometime around March (if not sooner).

 

I am thinking this year, we should keep it simple. . .

 

Let's commit to just one thing.

Let's commit to helping others in anyway that we can. 

Let's commit to making a difference for one person.

Let's commit to giving more to others than getting more for ourselves.

Let's commit to doing more for others than taking more for ourselves. 

 

Let's commit to helping someone this year who is in need.  

 

 

 

 

 

Elevate Urban Youth

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING EDUCATION 

ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL CHILDREN?

For 18 months, ERC supported Elevate New York. This new organization is dedicated to building long-term, life-changing relationships with urban youth, instilling hope for the future and increasing graduation rates.

For more about Elevate New York, visit

www.elevatenewyork.org/‎

You can teach a student a lesson for a day;
but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity,
he will continue the learning process as long as he lives. 

~Clay P. Bedford

Don't forget . . .

art by LGW

It was six months ago, I took out glue and scissors for a very special art project. Hearts for Newtown is a special project that is focused on continuing to reach out to these devastated families long after the camera lights fade.
http://www.facebook.com/HeartsforNewtown

As someone who has also personally suffered from tragic loss, I ask you to not forget those who were lost in the Sandy Hook tragedy.

Do what you can to support efforts to make our schools safer.

http://www2.sandyhookpromise.org/

Fall In Love

SHE CAN WILL CHANGE THE WORLD

My year was impacted by so many great women. 

Women who care about our world. 

They care about equal rights for women in our own city, our country and throughout the world. 

They care about accessibility to; education, safety, freedom from violence, family health, reproductive options, freedom of speech, religious rights, human rights. 

They fight to protect those women and girls throughout our world who are suppressed, held captive, pushed back, shut out and turned off. 

They believe that all women should have rights, know their rights and be free to grow and prosper.

I salute the women who stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. 

I applaud all those who reach out and extend their hand to help heal. 

I appreciate and support those who make it their mission each day to give a little girl the chance to become a powerful and free woman; allowing her to know her rights and move into her full potential. 

So I thank the women - known and unknown - mothers, aunts, grandmothers, neighbors, teachers, policymakers, philanthropists, doctors, celebrities, athletes, police and military officers, physicians, writers, journalists, ministers, performers, designers, pharmacists, lawyers, managers, chief executives, nurses, researchers, developers, therapists, etc. - who make a difference every day. 

Thank YOU!

 

GET TO KNOW. . .

WOMEN MOVING MILLIONS
"We are at an interesting moment in our history as it relates to women and girls. On the one hand, women continue to be more economically disadvantaged, experience much more violence, earn less and are dramatically underrepresented in positions of leadership across all sectors. On the other hand, now more then ever women control the purse strings in terms of purchasing power, are increasingly the holders of wealth, are outperforming educationally in the western world and are starting and growing businesses at a much faster rate than men. . ."

Summer Afternoon

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; 

to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”
― Henry James

I have always looked forward to the Summer. As a child, I would eagerly await the last day of school, when we would simply burst out of class with an almost wild abandon onwards towards . . . Summer! 

Our days were filled with playing in the park, building forts in the woods, selling lemonade, wearing matching sundresses, learning in our family garden, going out for ice cream, fishing with our dad, dealing with insect bites, riding horses and so on.

Every child should have the opportunity to explore all that nature has to offer. I truly appreciate the organizations who make it their mission to get kids out of the concrete jungle and into the fresh air. There they can explore the world beyond . . . expanding their understanding of the options that exist for them and appreciate nature. 

There are so many great organizations providing this (truly) life-changing option to our urban youth.  

Check them out. 
Support them. 
Volunteer. 

Below are just a few great New York programs that are making a huge difference in the lives of so many!

FRESH AIR FUND
Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund has been providing free Summer programs to over 1.7 million kids.

KATCHKIE FARM
Katchkie Farm is the home of the Sylvia Center where school groups throughout New York visit to plant in the Children's Garden and learn about eating healthful foods.

WYCKOFF ASSOCIATION
Bringing it home. This Brooklyn-based association is focused on a specific aspect of urban gardening; providing students the principles of gardening and farming as well as an understanding of Brooklyn’s historic farming culture and modern urban landscape.

LOWER EASTSIDE GIRLS CLUB
A club focused on girls, includes a Summer Camp program that brings the participants together through teamwork, laughter and some good singing.

An April Rainbow

". . .realize clearly that all mankind is one, 

that human beings in every country are members of one and the same family."
- The Dalai Lama

On April 22nd, Earth Day was celebrated throughout our world. Many came together for our planet; organizing street clean-ups and school garden days, committing to greener living, joining on-line communities, attending concerts and many other "acts of green."

As a nature enthusiast and lover of this earth and its citizens, I appreciate all the efforts and personally strive to live my life to make this world a better, safer and cleaner place. 

As I watched a video of various people from all walks of life answer the question "What does Green mean to you?" - I began to think about the downside of our reference to "GREENING" our planet. 

Why did we choose the world "GREEN" - a singular color - to describe how we should take care of our planet? For a planet that is so rich in color and texture - why would we not "COLOR" our planet?

I ask . . .what is GREEN about the BLUE of the ocean, the YELLOW of a rat snake, the GRAY of the night sky, the PURPLE of a Coneflower, the RED of a Woodpecker's belly, the TEAL of tropical fish, the PINK of a Dolphin, the BROWN of the Marmorated stink bug, the WHITE stripe of a blue-winged teal Duck, the ORANGE of a baby Orangutan . . .? 

Don't get me wrong, I love the color of GREEN and its many shades - from jade, lime, vert to fern - I embrace this color. But I do love all the other colors as well and the beautiful way they dance together when mixed. 

So why the singular name of GREEN? Have we not learned that too much emphasis on one color has not produced good results. Our world is fraught with injustices that derive from our focus on "a color" and our need to expand our palette is eminent!

All COLORS are needed to end poverty.
All COLORS are needed to address environmental destruction.
All COLORS are needed to build a bridge to the future for our children and their children. 
All COLORS are needed for sustainable development.
All COLORS are needed to save our planet.

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. Mother Teresa

Please note that, on both a personal and professional level, I do support "Green" initiatives
and this blog entry is not meant to undermine such projects,
but instead to remind us to keep an all inclusive perspective in all our endeavors.

A Promise Made In March

 

Why is it not good enough to JUST BE YOURSELF?
"Social attitudes manifest themselves in a very basic way within the school environment,"
said study researcher Ian Rivers, "so if the school really upholds sports, kids who are not good at sport are going to be victimized because they are not living up to the expectations of others." 

***

It was a gray day in Boston. There was a chill that seemed to go straight through to my bones. The steady mist of rain was slowly destroying my knit hat and my bottom lip trembled. I stood with some of my team discussing the next steps of logistics. As I spoke, I sensed someone approaching. I turned to find a father with his daughter. He asked, "Are you in charge?" I explained that I was part of a team running the event and asked him how I could be of help. He put his arm lovingly on his daughters shoulder. "She really wants to meet her," he said. I looked at his daughter. She was probably around 16. She wore a red jacket and glasses. She was clutching something in her hand. She spoke excitedly, "I wrote a letter and I want to give it to her."

I smiled and explained that 'everyone wants to see her' and I 'couldn't promise' but 'could try.' As I went on, her eyes welled up with tears. I immediately leaned in to hug her - feeling badly. "What did I say?" I thought. After the hug, I looked in this young girls eyes and then I understood. She was crying because she wanted so badly to meet the person who wrote the words that made her feel that it was okay to just BE.

It was the lyrics of the song that spoke to her (and the thousands of teens that came through that day). The lyrics that let them know it was okay to BE. That it is okay to BE yourself. That one has the right to simply BE who they are. To just BE.

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Born this Way (Lady Gaga)

As the radio call came with a request for me to run off and help elsewhere, I turned to my partner and said, "Do what you can."  I squeezed this girls hand and told her that she was beautiful and special.

Later, I came back and found my new young friend. "Did you get to see her?" I asked. "Yes!" she exclaimed. She went on to tell me that she gave her letter to a security guard and she hopes that her idol will read it. I assured her that she would. As we spoke, the television crews were interviewing a group of young kids behind us. I turned and grabbed my young friend and introduced her to an available anchorman.

As I watched her answer questions, I realized I was crying. You see, while her father thanked me, what he doesn't know, it was I who should have been saying thank you. In fact, more important to me that day than meeting Oprah, was my interaction with this young girl.

She touched my heart.

She reminded me of how important it is that we, as a society, do what we need to do to protect our youngest citizens. To empower them. To let them know it is okay to be who they are. To not impose on them restrictions and definitions that stop them from reaching their full potential. To break down the walls of fear that result in bullying and intimidation. To break down the walls of prejudice and pride.

She touched my heart.

She reminded me that for us to achieve advancement in this area, that we - as adults - must learn to love ourselves and each other more. That we must work to be a stronger example. That we must set a better model. 

She touched my heart.

This month, I dedicate my work to Samantha and promise to work tirelessly to find ways to empower, encourage and inspire our youth. Will you join me?

Links

Born this Way Foundation

Why Do We . . .?