16May, 2023
Commemorating Black History Month
Happy February! This month is filled with joy, love and excitement as we take one step further into the new year and look toward the upcoming spring and summer. February tends to be very well-known for one specific holiday: Valentine’s Day. In honor of Saint Valentine himself, Valentine’s Day celebrates love and romance in our lives.
But even more special than one single day is what the entire month of February stands for: Black History Month. Black History Month is a time to remember, celebrate and commemorate the achievements and contributions by African-American men and women throughout U.S. history. When living an altruistic lifestyle, how can we take steps to truly honor Black History Month and those it recognizes? Let’s take a look at the history behind Black History Month and some ideas for how to commemorate it.
Studying Black History Month
The concept of Black History month first originated from historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History). As a young scholar, Woodson noticed the misrepresentation of African Americans in history books, or complete omission of their history altogether.
In 1926, Woodson announced the second week of February would be designated as “Negro History Week.” This week was first chosen because it coincided with the birthdate of Abraham Lincoln on February 12th, and Frederick Douglass on February 14th, both of which were already celebrated by many African American communities.
During the U.S. Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, African Americans began to reclaim pride in their history and cultural identity. By 1976, African Americans had begun to completely embrace their heritage and celebrate other African Americans who had made significant contributions throughout history.
As part of the United States’ bicentennial celebration that year, the month of February was then officially declared as Black History Month in 1976. Other countries soon followed suit, such as the United Kingdom in 1987 and Canada in 1995. Dr. Woodson and his efforts had left an unforgettable mark on history, one we continue to celebrate today through Black History Month.
Commemorating Black History Month
Woodson himself once stated, “If race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” We can help maintain this tradition by taking steps to properly honor Black History Month. This February, take some time to learn more about Black History Month, its origins and some of the individuals it honors, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks and Langston Hughes.
Learn about celebrated people in the African American community, and share about them with your friends and family. Watch films dedicated to black culture, listen to historically black music, read books and poetry by black authors or try new foods with historically black recipes. Most importantly, learn about some of the issues African Americans might still face in U.S. culture today. Have respectful, open-communication dialogues with individuals who may or may not look like you, and take this month as an opportunity to learn and grow in community.
No matter your race, Black History Month is an important time to celebrate the accomplishments of African American individuals. This February, use this time as a chance to look back and recognize how far the United States has come in racial inequality, and how far we still have to go. The month of February is about more than a romantic dinner and some candy: it’s about fully understanding all of U.S. history, and taking steps toward a better future.
11May, 2023
Celebrate Great Outdoors Month in June
School’s out for the summer, and the great outdoors is calling! Whether you have kids or you’re just looking to enjoy the warmer weather, there are plenty of ways to celebrate that also give back to the world we know and love. This is the perfect reminder to get out there, give back and go green, so we can keep the world a beautiful place for years to come. Check out these ideas that you can celebrate Great Outdoors Month throughout June!
Pick Up Litter in Your Community
This is an activity that can be done at any age! Organize a group of friends or family to pick up litter on your community streets or parks. You’ll need trash bags, gloves and preferably bright vests if you’ll be near a roadway. Remember—safety first! You’ll enjoy the nice summer air all while preserving our planet.
Give Back to Organizations Devoted to Our Environment
There are a ton of organizations that give back to making the world a better place. Do your research to find an organization that you would love to support. Consider reaching out to the organization to learn more and possibly even volunteer before you decide if you’d like to make a donation. Remember that any way you help a nonprofit organization, no matter how big or small, is making a difference!
Enjoy the Outdoors
Turning off the television and lights while you get outside to go for a hike or play in the park conserves energy! Enjoy mother nature by hiking on a nearby trail, playing an outdoor game, swimming at a local lake or any other outdoor activities in your area. Simply being outdoors is a great way to appreciate Great Outdoors Month!
Make a List of Ways You’ll Help
Sit down with your family, roommates or friends and create an action plan for the year to come. Include ways you want to celebrate the outdoors and continue to keep it beautiful. This list can include habits you’d like to change, or good deeds you’d like to perform. To get your list started, here are a few ideas!
- Use less water when you brush your teeth
- Take shorter showers
- Recycle as much as possible
- Shop at thrift stores to get gently used versus new
- Plant trees in your community
- Plant a garden in your own backyard
June is the first official month of summer, which makes it the perfect opportunity to celebrate the great outdoors! Together, we can make a difference in our world and preserve it for our children, their children and so on. You can do your part by reducing, reusing and recycling, conserving water, planting trees and even simply enjoying mother nature.
11May, 2023
Great Ways to Give Back on Memorial Day
Like many Americans over Memorial Day, you might plan on spending this weekend grilling out with family, relaxing by the lake or going on a quick trip to the mountains. Memorial Day is well-known as time off from work, the perfect opportunity to relax and refresh. However, there’s much more to the holiday than simply taking a break.
Memorial Day is a time commemorating the U.S. military men and women who have died in active service to our country. We honor these servicemen and women for the contribution they gave, even when it cost them their lives. Memorial Day means much more than time off from work and hosting a barbecue, so if you want to get involved this weekend, check out these great ways to give back.
Serve at a homeless shelter.
According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, approximately 11% of the current adult homeless population are veterans themselves, many of whom suffer from mental illness and/or substance abuse issues. Unfortunately, homelessness can be a pervasive issue many U.S. veterans face. By using time this Memorial Day to serve at a homeless shelter, you can potentially help veterans right in your community. Contact local shelters near you and see what assistance they need this week and how you can get involved.
Work with a nursing home.
More than 16 million Americans served in World War II; over 5.7 million served in the Korean War; and 2.7 million U.S. soldiers served in Vietnam. The youngest of these brave men and women are still in their 60s. Chances are, almost every nursing home in the country houses at least one veteran. Without visiting friends or family, nursing homes can feel like incredibly lonely, isolating places. Fortunately, you can brighten someone’s day by volunteering your time and talents to care for veterans within these home facilities.
Donate to organizations.
There are plenty of nonprofit organizations—both local and national—who work tirelessly to support veterans near you. These charities help veterans with housing, job placements and healthcare, or strive to improve the wellbeing for those on active duty. For example, organizations such as Combat Wounded, Veterans of Community Response and Veterans Matter are all valuable causes to contribute to. Research charities near you or nationally to find one you can support this Memorial Day.
Send a care package.
If you want to do something more personal and related to active duty service members, consider sending a care package this weekend. Put together a military care package to send overseas and raise a soldier’s spirits. Include goodies from the United States, comfort foods and of course a note thanking them for their service. These men and women are often separated from their family and friends for long periods of time in stressful situations, so receiving mail—even from a stranger—can brighten their day.
Decorate a site.
Before Memorial Day, it was “Decoration Day”—a holiday dedicated to decorating fallen soldiers’ graves. Nowadays, you can keep this tradition alive and well. If there is a memorial site or veteran cemetery near your area, go visit and set out flowers or other decorations on the graves. Better still, get together a group of friends or family and divide up the cemetery into different areas, to clean and decorate as many grave sites as possible. This is even a great way to get kids involved and share the true value of Memorial Day with them.
Memorial Day is an incredibly special time in our America’s history. This weekend, do more than barbecue. Take time to truly commemorate the meaning of the holiday and celebrate the servicemen and women who have given everything to this country.
11May, 2023
Meaningful Summer Activities for the Entire Family
Warm weather. Pool days. Ice Cream. These are just a few staples that let us know summer is on the way. Soon, schools across the country will be letting out for a few months. There are only so many days before you hear the inevitable from your kids or family during the hot summer—”I’m bored!” It’s not from a lack of you trying to keep everybody entertained. It’s just a fact of the season!
Luckily, there are some ways you can keep everybody busy this summer with meaningful activities. Check out our examples below, then come up with your own ideas to add meaning to time off this summer.
Volunteer at Your Favorite Organization
Summer is the perfect time to show your kids that giving back can be fun. Choose an organization that has a shared interest among your family and ask about volunteer opportunities. Make sure to talk about what they can expect before you arrive to volunteer at an organization of your choice and then discuss how they felt afterward. You and the family will leave feeling good about the people you’ve helped and the work you’ve done.
Collect Canned Goods
School lunches are a vital meal for many children across the country who may not otherwise get a meal that day. When school lets out for the summer, that means many kids who rely on school lunches are sadly left without. Ask your kids to help you start a summer food drive where they go door to door to stock pantries for those in need. Partner with a local food bank to find out what specific items they are lacking and advocate for the most needed items. Plus, mobilizing your kids to help you collect items means you get to do good and get your exercise in for the day.
Make Your Version of a Lemonade Stand
A lemonade stand is the ultimate beginning for an entrepreneur, and it has ties to the ultimate summer activity. Many entrepreneurs embarked on their first adventure with a lemonade stand to charge money for delicious lemonade. As a nod to your inner child, host a lemonade stand on a hot day where the proceeds are donated to your favorite organization. Set up at a local parade or outdoor event during the summer and advertise where the proceeds will go!
Get Active for Charity
Set a goal for good! You can come up with your own fundraiser that ties getting active to raising money for charity. Set a goal of miles you want to run, and get sponsors to match up to a certain dollar amount if you achieve your goal. Commit to jump roping a certain amount every day, and get people to donate along the way as you reach your goal. No matter what activity you decide to do, tie it to your fundraising efforts!
These are just a few examples of ways you can beat summer boredom and give back while having fun! Sit down with your family to find out what organizations interest them and how you want to give back this summer. Set goals at the beginning of the summer, and watch as you achieve them before school starts up again in the fall!