LIVE UNITED Y’All!

I recently found myself sitting with the question, “what I have I really done to make a difference for kids lately?” I work for a non-profit agency. I direct an early childhood initiative. In theory, I do things everyday that help make the world a better place, but what have I REALLY done lately?

Just as I was getting really down on myself, I saw a thank you note from a preschool class that I have hanging on my office wall. It thanks me for reading to them. I remembered that experience, and it made me smile. The most important thing it did was remind me that it is the small things we do for individuals that probably makes the most difference.

Last week I volunteered to accompany a dozen 12 and 13 year-olds on a field trip to the pool. It seemed like an easy gig; go the pool, play around, eat a grilled cheese sandwich. The next morning my neck revealed to me that maybe it wasn’t such a relaxing time. Apparently the hours of “Let’s dunk that tall guy” (the official name of the game) that I played took a little bit of a toll.

The week before that, my friend Charles took his nephew and crew to Cedar Point for the day. Again, it seemed like another excuse to have fun, ride a few roller coasters, eat some funnel cake, and take a few funny pictures…no problem. I think he slept for 24 hours straight when he got back.

What’s the point of these stories? Well, I think that Charles and I have the same goals in mind – we want these young people to know that they have people in their lives who care about them…people who are willing to sacrifice their time (and bodies) to do what they want to do.  We know that’s one of the things kids need.

So I have done something to make a difference lately. What have you done lately to make a difference? Here are 150 ways to show kids you care. I challenge you to pick something off the list. Find a young person, and make it happen (make sure get their parent or guardian’s permission).

Tell me about your experience. Let’s share the stories so we all feel good. What other ideas do you have to make a difference for young people?

Photo credit: Gary Simmons

Advocacy, General Children, Common good, Community, Live United, making a difference, youth

By Angie Ratliff

Today is a big day- for my family and me, at least. My nephew Jack, the first member of the new Ratliff generation, is turning 1 today! I’m of course not biased in the least when I say he is the most adorable and clever one-year-old on the planet. Jack’s birthday party preparations have rivaled my own wedding-in-the-works, but how could I resist getting him both the water table activity set and the Step2 Push Around Buggy? Not that I’m vying for “favorite aunt” status or anything…

Although we spent this past weekend blowing up balloons, wrapping presents, and icing cupcakes for the big day, the best part of this weekend (and every weekend I get to spend with Jack) is watching him learn and explore new things. I love the look on his face when he succeeds in picking a flower from the garden, and the way he bops his head and shakes his little body every time he hears music playing. The little man has rhythm already, although he surely didn’t inherit that from the Ratliff side! It’s impossible not to smile when Jack smiles or laugh when Jack laughs. (It’s also impossible not to laugh when Jack sticks out his bottom lip and lets out a fake wail after the dog gives him a big surprise kiss across the face!)

It’s hard to believe that a year has already gone by, and Jack is already on his way to turning two. My work in Success By 6 has taught me that these are the most influential years in Jack’s life. He is blessed little boy to have such a loving and supportive family and opportunities to learn and explore. We often joke in my family that Jack is likely the happiest child alive. He laughs incessantly and even smiles in his sleep. What Jack doesn’t yet realize is how his presence has made the Ratliff clan the happiest family alive, as well.

Photo credit: hfb

General Success By 6

Do you ever watch something that just gives you chills? When I saw this video, I got goose bumps: http://www.give5forall.org/

Created by our very own Erin McMahon [ed. note - with help from United Way of America!], it really resonates with me, because it focuses on a place I really care about – Kentuckiana. I wanted to share it with you because I think you will love it too! So hurry, go watch it, right now…

Leave me a comment and let me know if you feel the same way too!

General, Giving Change the World, Common good, Live United

I don’t know about any one else, but I can’t wait for the next Harry Potter movie. I love the story and have read all the books. I continue to be impressed by the longevity of the series, its appeal to both adults and children, and the magical world of imagination it inspires.

At Metro United Way, we talk a lot about stories. We tell stories to donors and volunteers  in order to make a personal connection to the time and money they invest in our mission. We practice telling stories that are hopefully memorable, concrete, emotional and simple. We want our stories to show how we together make a difference in the lives of individuals in our community. We want to put a face to the numbers and overwhelming amounts of information available on the work we do.

What we find is that often, if we dig a bit, we all have stories. We have stories of volunteering with scouting, soup kitchens, church picnics, neighborhood clean ups and community organizations. We have stories of helping and being helped. We know people who have used the services and programs made possible through donations to Metro United Way.

I find it liberating to know the stories and share stories about a cousin who has been helped many times by a safe blood supply courtesy of the American Red Cross, an uncle who found help at JADAC, a mother who needed shelter and found a new life at the Salvation Army, or my grandmother, the consummate Samaritan, delivering food to families in need through St. Vincent de Paul.

What is your story? We are all interconnected. I know you can also inspire others to give, advocate and volunteer by telling your story.

Advocacy, General, Giving, Volunteering stories, storytelling

By: Kerri Cokeley

So, Michael Jackson’s memorial service has now concluded. Love him or hate him, he is one of the most famous people in the world. His music has and will continue to influence millions all around the globe. My mom grew up with the Jackson 5 and I jammed to Michael’s solo tunes throughout elementary school (and perhaps a little longer…) Michael was able to cross generations, ethnicities, and countries with music.

As sad as this whole situation is (from many perspectives), it gets me to reflecting. At the risk of being cheesy, I want to share with you one of his songs that really hits home for me. Thank you Michael for teaching me my first lesson in community building, “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make the change!”

Man in the Mirror

I’m Gonna Make A Change
For Once In My Life
It’s Gonna Feel Real Good
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right…

As I, Turn Up The Collar On
My Favorite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin’ My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See Their Needs
A Summer’s Disregard
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man’s Soul
They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya’ Know
‘Cause They Got Nowhere To Go
That’s Why I Want You To Know

I’m Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I’m Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change

I’ve Been A Victim Of
A Selfish Kind Of Love
It’s Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No Home
Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me
Pretending That They’re Not Alone?

A Willow Deeply Scarred
Somebody’s Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
They Follow The Pattern Of
The Wind, Ya’ See
Cause They Got No Place To Be
That’s Why I’m Starting With Me

I’m Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I’m Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change

I’m Starting With The Man In The Mirror
(Man In The Mirror-Oh Yeah!)
I’m Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Better Change!)
No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make The Change)
(You Gotta Get It Right, While You Got The Time)
(‘Cause When You Close Your Heart)
You Can’t Close Your…Your Mind!
(Then You Close Your…Mind!)
That Man, That Man, That Man, That Man
With That Man In The Mirror
(Man In The Mirror, Oh Yeah!)

…

General change, make change, Michael Jackson

It’s funny how sometimes the things in life that go completely wrong are the things that lead you to exactly where you’re meant to be. That’s how it came about that I am Campus Engagement intern and part-time Loaned Executive at Metro United Way. It’s also how I came to be Sommer’s guest blogger today. My name is Rebecca Hall and I am a senior Communication student at the University of Louisville.

An interview gone badly in the field I intended to go into after college led me to rethink my dreams of becoming a journalist.  I was pretty sure the interview was an omen nudging me to change my course, but what direction was I supposed to turn now? While contemplating this I had one of those “Ah-ha!” moments that change the course of your life. The reason I was drawn to journalism was that I saw writing as an avenue for bringing to light social problems and injustices. I saw it as a way to inspire change and make a difference in peoples’ lives. It had never occurred to me until then that I could do more than just write an occasional inspiring article; I could work on the front-lines of solving community issues and really have an impact! That’s when I visited Metro United Way’s website and discovered that the three building blocks to a good life, education, income and health, were exactly the areas I wanted to pursue to enact change. A few emails, interviews and training later, here I am.

As Campus Engagement intern, I have the exciting challenge of helping to launch Student United Way at area colleges. Student United Way is a student-run organization that inspires college students to give, advocate and volunteer in the areas of education, income and health. We want to find out what issues are important to students. Do you feel strongly about providing educational opportunities to children in low-income areas? Do you want to make students aware of the benefits of certain health practices? We want to provide students an opportunity to be leaders on their campuses and leaders in their community. We also want to connect service-minded students to each other. What talents and skills can you bring to Student United Way that will benefit the common good? We want to inspire area college students to Live United.

A Student United Way group is already underway at Indiana University Southeast and my main focus will be to engage students at U of L. Our goal is to eventually have student leaders from all area colleges working together to give, advocate and volunteer. We hope you will join and support the Student United Way movement!

Interested in helping us start at Student United Way on your campus or know a local college student who would be a good student leader?  Contact me at rebeeca-dot-hall-at-metrounitedway-dot-org or call 502.292.6185 for more information. 

General Student United Way

by Priscilla Henken

I recently got into the art of origami, specifically paper cranes, and have been practicing by making cranes of different sizes for my co-workers in my spare time. They love them and it gives me a chance to show off my new skill. Well, last week another co-worker from the other side of the building was in the Marketing Department and saw one of my particularly good specimens sitting on the desk of my boss. He was impressed and when he found out that I had made it he came to my office to tell me this story which has inspired hope for so many people across the world.

At the end of World War II when the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, many people who survived ended up with severe radiation sickness and cancer. One such citizen was a young girl by the name of Sadako Sasaki. She was 2 when the bomb hit a little more than a mile from her home in Hiroshima. For the next 10 years she would struggle with health issues until finally in 1955, at age 12, she was diagnosed with leukemia and less than a year to live.

While she was in the hospital a friend brought her a square of golden paper, folded a crane out of it and told her the legend that if she could fold 1,000 paper cranes then she would get a wish. Sadako was inspired and began folding. Even though she had plenty of time in the hospital for folding, she lacked paper. She would use anything she could find and would even go into other patients rooms to ask for the paper from their get well presents. Her friends from school would bring her paper when they would come to visit but it still wasn’t enough. Sadako never finished her cranes. She died after spending 8 months in the hospital and making 644 cranes. After she died her friends and family got together, finished her cranes and buried all 1,000 with her.

Though Sadako did not finish her cranes, she had set something in motion. In the years since Sadako’s death there have been several books written about her legacy as well as a play and a few songs. There is a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane erected in Hiroshima as a memorial to her and the other children that lost their lives. All of this has morphed into a mass movement of the people of the world. Each year, millions gather across the world to fold paper cranes for peace and justice across the globe.

What came from Sadako’s suffering shows how one person can make a difference and that if people care it can lead to a huge movement for a common cause. This is a wonderful example of what it means to LIVE UNITED in your community. Imagine if we could be so moved in our community without having to let anyone hurt for any amount of time. We could change our community dramatically and it could even lead to a change in the world. All you have to do is go online and find out how you can volunteer your time to make a difference.

Flickr photo: MarkyBon

Advocacy, General, Volunteering Hiroshima, Live United, Paper Cranes, Sadako Sasaki, Volunteer