Feel Good Friday - New Year's Manifesto

With a busy holiday season, it’s time for another Feel Good Friday Flashback! Originally posted in 2016, the transition from one year to the next can be a great time to reflect on what’s important to you and set some intentions for the future. Check it out!

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Happy Feel Good Friday!

The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on the previous 12 months and to set goals for the future. Many people do this in the form of New Year's resolutions but I'm recommending writing a manifesto!

Wikipedia defines a manifesto as "a published verbal declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party or government" and links to a ton of examples as only Wikipedia can.

January 1st is a great time to declare your intentions and it's easy to get started. This article from the Huffington Post gives details on what to consider when writing a manifesto and breaks it down to five simple steps:

1. Get inspired.
2. Make notes.
3. Write a rough draft.
4. Put it away, then proofread.
5. Live it.

If you're too busy at the gym to write an original manifesto, there are plenty already out there that can provide you with some inspiration. One of my favorites comes from a company called Holstee whose mission is "to help people live a reflective and intentional life". I've included the picture below and if you like it, you can order a poster.

Happy writing and happy new year!

Feel Good Friday - Family Promise

Winter weather can be challenging, especially for those who are experiencing homelessness. That’s the inspiration to highlight Family Promise, an organization working to end family homelessness across the United States.

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, Family Promise “prevents and ends homelessness for families with children and helps them achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.” 

Family Promise is the largest nonprofit addressing family homelessness in the nation and there is a great need for their services. According to information shared in videos and posts in 2023, 42.9 million households spent more than 30% of their income on housing costs and 21.5 million spent more than 50% of their income on housing. In addition, 3 million children in the United States experience homelessness every year. 

Family Promise has 200 Affiliates in 43 states, staffed by over 180,000 volunteers. Together they run a variety of shelter, prevention, and stabilization programs such as the examples below.

Prevention and diversion programs aim to keep families out of shelters by providing services such as temporary hotel stays, landlord mediation or rental assistance. Emergency shelter is offered on a rotational model which means mobilizing volunteers to help house families in community space. Stabilization programs focus on tenancy training, financial capability and other educational initiatives. Housing programs include master leasing, transitional in place programming, and housing choice vouchers. Finally, when needed local communities organize to provide services such as food pantries, furniture donation and holiday gift drives.

The results from using this holistic approach are impressive. 63,000 families were served in 2023 and over 80% of families in the Family Promise shelter program exit into stable housing.

If you’d like to get involved, look for an affiliate in your community and volunteer. You can also make a monetary donation and help amplify their work by spreading the word on social media. Follow Family Promise on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Feel Good Friday - Second Chance Toys

With the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays coming up and birthdays happening every year, toys are on my mind. What a great time to learn about Second Chance Toys.

Founded in 2006 by Sasha Lipton and headquartered in Springfield, New Jersey, Second Chance Toys (SCT) “keeps plastic toys out of the landfills by donating them to children in need.” Here’s why.

According to information on the SCT website, “toys can enhance a child’s development by helping promote socialization, creativity, emotional security, motor skills, and learning.” All that and they’re a lot of fun. However, with 11 million children in 2023 living in poverty in the United States, not every family can provide toys for their children. That’s where Second Chance Toys comes in.

Twice a year, SCT collects unwanted plastic toys and donates them to organizations that care for children in need. Because plastic toys often show little signs of wear, passing them on to other children diverts them from becoming waste in a landfill while also giving those children toys they might not otherwise have. This one-minute video gives a great overview: A Second Chance Toys Story.

The toy collections are held twice a year by SCT. First during April for Earth Week and then again in November and December for the holidays. Their demand for toys now exceeds 1,000,000 so let’s talk about ways you can help.

Donate any toys you no longer need. If you have toys that are plastic and clean with no small or missing parts, check this map for locations where you can drop them off. If you’d like to increase your impact, contact family, friends, or local businesses and schools to pool donations. Once you collect and prepare these toys, you can make arrangements with one of the eligible organizations to drop them off. If you really want to make a difference, get media coverage for your toy drive. Check out these resources such as flyers explaining what toys can be donated and posts for social media.

If you work at an organization that cares for children in need, or know someone who does, fill out this toy recipient registration form to find out if you’re eligible to receive some of the gently used toys from SCT.

Since they began, Second Chance Toys has collected and distributed 443,105 toys, which has kept over 1.5 million pounds of plastic out of landfills!

Finally, if you don’t have any toys to donate but still want to help, you can. Volunteer your time, make a monetary donation, and spread the word on social media. Like the Second Chance Toys Facebook page and follow them on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Feel Good Friday - Caitlin's Smiles

The upcoming holidays inspired me to search for groups that support children and that’s what led me to today’s featured organization, Caitlin’s Smiles.

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Caitlin’s Smiles is “a non-profit organization that provides arts and crafts activities to children in medical facilities.”

The organization was founded in memory of Caitlin Hornung, a young girl who spent years in and out of hospitals undergoing surgeries and treatments as she battled cancer. During that time she kept a positive attitude by finding joy in creating art. Although she passed away in 2000, her spirit is kept alive through the work of Caitlin’s Smiles.

The mission of Caitlin’s Smiles is encouraging “children with serious health challenges to explore their uniquely creative talents by taking part in arts and crafts activities. While creating feelings of self-worth and instilling confidence in these children, the efforts ultimately put smiles on the faces of everyone involved.”

The organization is run by volunteers and they coordinate and create several types of gift bags to be delivered. Bags of Smiles include a volunteer-made greeting card, two craft kits, two jars of Play-Doh, a journal, coloring materials and a small toy or book. Coping Kits are mini Bags of Smiles geared for children in emergency room or out-patient surgery settings. Camp-in-a-Bag kits were born in 2020 when in-person summer medical camps for pediatric patients were canceled. Each kit contained five craft activities that campers did together during online meetings.

The impact of Caitlin’s Smiles is impressive. Gift bags are sent to children in hospitals, clinics, emergency departments, and other medical offices throughout Pennsylvania and the surrounding states of Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. In 2023, they delivered 13,085 Bags of Smiles, 19,874 Coping Kits and 113,374 Craft Kits!

If you want to get involved bringing smiles to the faces of children stuck in medical facilities this holiday season there are many ways to do so. Volunteer your time, create homemade cards, or donate cash or supplies. You can also amplify their message by spreading the word on social media. Like the Caitlin’s Smiles Facebook page, follow them on Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

 

Feel Good Friday - The Buy Nothing Project

Many people are spending today shopping for Black Friday deals. If that’s not your jam, I invite you to take a moment to learn about the Buy Nothing Project.

The Buy Nothing Project started in 2013 when two friends, Liesl Clark and Rebecca Rockefeller,  created “an experimental hyper-local gift economy” on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The idea quickly spread and now there are 245,000 Buy Nothing communities in 44 nations with over 11 million members sharing 2.6 million gifts per month!

The goal of the Buy Nothing Project is to build community while reducing the environmental impact of all the things we buy. Not only is the life of an existing item extended through gifting and sharing between neighbors, it also builds trust between participants.

Here’s how it works. Start at the Buy Nothing app online or download it to your phone. Enter your neighborhood to connect with your local community and create your profile. Once that’s done you can post items to give away, browse the current listings or make a specific ask for something you need. You can also share gratitude for something you received. 

Because the focus this movement is to build community, everything shared is given freely with no strings attached. Items on the site range from clothing and furniture to books, beauty products and craft supplies. There is nothing too big or too small to share. I’ve used the site to give empty egg cartons to a neighbor trying to keep up with her backyard chickens. You can also use the site to borrow or lend items like camping supplies and tools.

If you’re curious to see what’s available in your neighborhood you can search for a registered group. To learn more about the Buy Nothing Project itself, listen to this All Things Considered story or read the book written by the founders, “The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan". Before you buy it, why not check it out from your local library?

The Buy Nothing Project is run by a group of 14,000+ volunteers who provide tools and resources for everyone in the community as well as manage online security and keep the servers running. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, become a community builder.

Other ways to get involved are to join your local Buy Nothing group, support the project by making a direct contribution or becoming a sustaining member to unlock special features in the app. You can also buy swag (yes they know) and amplify their message on social media. Like the Buy Nothing Project Facebook page and follow them on Instagram.

Feel Good Friday - California Association of Food Banks

As Thanksgiving approaches and many of us are preparing to spend time with family, friends, and food, I want to highlight an organization focused on food insecurity, the California Association of Food Banks.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Oakland, California, the mission of the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) is “to end hunger in California”.

According to information on their website, although California produces nearly half of the nation’s fruits and vegetables, over 5 million people in Californian face hunger on a daily basis. One out of every four of those people is a child. The team at CAFB believes that “having enough to eat is a basic human right, and that ending hunger in our state is both essential and possible.” Here’s what they’re doing about it.

CAFB works with a network of 41 member food banks around the state to build their capacity and make them more effective. They also provide more than 200+ million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables which is recovered from California’s fields, transported to the member food banks, and distributed to people in need. Details about this program are in this 3-minute Farm to Family video. 

Another area of their work is connecting people to the state’s food stamp program, CalFresh. Only 70% of eligible households get CalFresh, meaning 2 million qualified people are not receiving these nutrition benefits. CAFB partners help nearly 30,000 households apply for CalFresh benefits every year.

CAFB also improves public policy around food bank support, disaster resilience, child nutrition, CalFresh, food waste and poverty. Their legislative partners work to pass state bills and secure state funding that will help to end hunger and alleviate poverty in California. Finally, there are special initiatives such as improving food access for farm workers and preparing for and responding to disasters such as wildfires.

If you’d like to help the California Association of Food Banks achieve their vision of “a well-nourished and hunger-free California, where all people have enough food to lead a healthy life”, there are many ways to do so. Volunteer at one of the member food banks, make a donation, and amplify their work on social media. Like the CAFB Facebook page and follow them on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Feel Good Friday - Indivisible

I’ve been thinking about how to turn my disappointment and anger about the presidential election results into action and that led me to a call with Indivisible.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Indivisible began in 2016 when former congressional staffers Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg put together a Google Doc called the Indivisible Guide. In it, they provided advice on how everyday Americans could organize locally to pressure their elected officials to resist Trump’s agenda.

Since then Indivisible has grown into a grassroots movement of millions of activists across every state, organized in thousands of local Indivisible groups. Their mission is to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and fight back against what they’re calling “Trump 2.0”. Last night, over 50,000 people joined a call with the founders and Senator Elizabeth Warren to get motivated for the work ahead and get access to the new Indivisible Guide. It’s full of practical strategies, tactics and tips for actions we can all take. Here’s how it works.

“Indivisible’s national team offers strategic leadership, movement coordination, and support to Indivisible activists, and also directly lobbies congress, builds partnerships, runs media campaigns, and develops advocacy strategies.” 

Individuals can get involved by joining, or creating, an Indivisible group. You'll find resources on how to lead and sustain a group of community activists in the Group Support Hub. Recommendations on how to hold your members of Congress accountable are in the Indivisible Guide. This year, the team has identified three big plays to make it to the 2026 midterms: oppose Project 2025; use Democrats to block, delay and challenge MAGA’s attacks; and work to protect and win elections.

If you’re not ready to join a group, you can search for local events or contact your members of Congress from the comfort of your couch. Click the resources page to send emails to your representatives on a variety of topics. Here’s one I just filled out: Call on the House Ethics Committee to Release the Gaetz Report

Since the first guide was released, organized communities of Indivisible activists “saved the Affordable Care Act in 2017, built the largest midterm margins in the history of the republic in 2018, pushed for Trump’s first impeachment in 2019, [and] defeated him in 2020.” Let’s not stop now.

Here are more ways you can help Indivisible “fight to defeat the rightwing takeover of American government and build an inclusive democracy.” Read, share and use the Indivisible Guide, join an Indivisible group, make a donation, shop for merch and spread the word on social media. Follow Indivisible on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky. 

Feel Good Friday - Protect Democracy

There are some Fridays when finding something to feel good about takes more effort than usual and this is one of them. Luckily, a bit of searching online led me to Protect Democracy.

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Washington D.C., Protect Democracy is “a cross-ideological nonprofit group dedicated to defeating the authoritarian threat, building more resilient democratic institutions, and protecting our freedom and liberal democracy.” 

It is made up of two sister organizations. Protect Democracy United, focuses on funding litigation, public communications and advocacy efforts to confront threats to our democracy. This includes lobbying in legislatures at both the federal and local levels. Protect Democracy Project provides public education about threats to democratic norms and what American people can do to confront them. This 7-minute video gives a great overview of the work done by both organizations.

Why is Protect Democracy concerned about the state of our government? According to the Authoritarian Threat Index, the U.S. rates a 2.5 on a scale of 1 to 5, halfway between a healthy democracy and total dictatorship. There are significant threats across all metrics: treatment of media, executive constraints, elections, civil liberties, civil violence and rhetoric.

To combat these threats, Protect Democracy has over 120 experts working in 28 states to protect free and fair elections, defend the rule of law and stop the spread of disinformation. You can read details of their work at this link.

As part of their educational mission, Protect Democracy has published an authoritarian playbook that outlines the seven fundamental tactics used by aspiring authoritarians. A few that may seem familiar are spreading disinformation, scapegoating vulnerable communities and stoking violence.

Fortunately, there is also a democracy playbook which outlines steps we can all take to defend our democracy. Those include: know the signs and red lines; engage in democracy locally; find your voice, lead a chorus, embrace your niche; remember democracy in the voting booth; and keep the faith. When put into action, this looks like becoming a poll worker, writing a letter to the editor, and of course voting.

Examples of the impact Protect Democracy has had since they began include building an election monitoring team and software that helps officials protect 155 million public voter records, educating 2022 midterm voters about key takeaways from the January 6th Committee and filing a court order blocking vigilantes from intimidating Arizona voters.

If you’d like to help prevent our democracy from declining into a more authoritarian form of government, there are several ways to do so. Take some actions listed in the democracy playbook, make a donation and spread the word on social media. Like the Protect Democracy Facebook page and follow them on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Feel Good Friday - American Indian College Fund

Today is the first day of Native American Heritage Month, also called National American Indian Heritage Month. Let’s kick it off by learning more about the American Indian College Fund.

Established in 1989 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the American Indian College Fund (the College Fund) is “the nation's largest and highest-rated American Indian scholarship organization” with “one unwavering purpose – increasing the number of American Indians who hold college degrees.”

As they explain on their website, “currently only 14% of American Indians have a college degree - less than half the national average.” The College Fund addresses this issue by providing financial support. In 2022-2023, they awarded over $18 million in scholarships to 5,762 American Indian and Native Alaskan (AIAN) students, more than half of whom were the first in their families to attend college. The College Fund also provides these students with direct support such as professional development workshops, employment resources and coaching support. They encourage student engagement through online events, website resources and social media posts, emails and messages.

Another area of work is supporting 35 Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). Most TCUs are located on or near reservation lands and are known for their culturally-relevant curricula, and familial student care. The College Fund has given these TCUs $134 million to use for infrastructure and programs focused on computer science, environmental stewardship, indigenous education, and native arts.

The College Fund also support 1665 full time TCU faculty with graduate fellowships, professional development grants and workshops, opportunities to conduct and share research, and communities of practice that allow them to network with other fellows.

Since they began 35 years ago, the College Fund has awarded 159,652 scholarships to AIAN students totaling $166 million. Statistics show that “80% of of employed scholar graduates work in jobs that give back to their communities” making this money well spent.

If you’d like to support the American Indian College Fund in their efforts to increase the number of American Indians who hold college degrees you can do so by making a donation and amplifying their message on social media. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and share their recommendations on how to celebrate Native American Heritage Month with food, dance or watching tv!