My 7 year old little brother Nicholas (BBBS brother) recently sent Flat Stanley to visit. Stanley is a quiet little guy that somehow ended up very flat. The upside to this predicament is that he can travel by mail! He arrived in our mail box almost two months ago and has been adventuring with us ever since.
Just in case Nic and his Grade 2/3 class were worried Stanley sent them a post card. Now he is on his way home with all kinds of stories about life in Halifax, and our visits to Toronto and St. John's. Helping Stanley travel is a great way to flex the imagination muscles and learn about different places all over the world (with a much smaller carbon footprint).
My Attempt at Making the world a bit better for today is to send Flat Stanley home. Along with a detailed report of the fun we've had together here in Nova Scotia. This is a cool way to connect with my favourite Grade 2 student from across the country - he is not really in to phone calls or electronic communication. Normally we would hang out every week or two and do a random activity, like crafts or swimming. I miss Nic a lot and I think being a part of the lives of a few kids as they grow up is a pretty awesome way to make the world a better place, on a lot of levels. Make time for kids!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
DreamCatcher Mentoring
Kids in Canada's North have a pretty tough go of it sometimes. We have probably all heard some of the press about the negative things going on and may have even heard a few of the success stories of the heroes like Mr. Tootoo the gritty Nashville Predators NHL player from Rankin Inlet.
Anything we can do too help our youth reach their full potential is a big part of making the world a better place. So check this out:
"Help looking for mentors - please spread the word and register by Friday!
DreamCatcher Mentoring (DCM) is looking for Canadians to e-mentor high school students in Yukon and Nunavut. DCM is an innovative e-mentoring program that connects students with Canadian mentors who work in the students’ aspired “dream careers”. We have created a unique strategy to bridge the education, cultural, communication, and geographic gaps in Canada.
With the decreasing rate of high school graduation in Canada’s north, this program was created to empower students to realize the rewards of staying in school.Since 2005, we have connected over 200 students in Canada’s north with amazing Canadian mentors from around the world who work in professions such as medicine, carpentry, social work, sports management, military sciences, and many more. This year, we have had unprecedented enrollment from 8 Yukon schools and the high school in Iqaluit, Northwest Territories.
We are always looking for more mentors for our program. Every year from April-June, mentors communicate with students by posting messages on our website. These are not “live” discussions, but rather a message posting forum. Depending on how much you write and the frequency of your messages, the average time commitment is 30-60 min/week until the end of school (June 2009).
If you know anyone that would like to e-mentor a Yukon or Nunavut high school student, please have them visit us at: http://www.dreamcatchermentoring.ca/. Even if you can’t participate this year, it is always good to register anyway so that we can call-upon you for future years.
This year, we are in particular need of the following careers:
· Business person/ Entrepreneur (multiple)· Esthetician/ Hair dresser (lots of these this year)· Medicine (medical students, doctors, and researchers)· Conservation Officer (multiple)· Construction (multiple)· Sports management (multiple)· Carpentry (multiple)· Trades: Mechanic/Electrician (multiple)· Fitness Training· Singer· Fashion designer"
This week I received the above email from an amazing friend and mentor that helped start this really cool initiative. My attempt at a better world for today is signing up to be a mentor if any youth are interested in hearing what I do, and passing the info on to anyone I could think of that fit the list of needed careers or has connections that fit the list. Please consider doing the same.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Language
I have always been impressed by the amount of courage and determination it must take to be a newcomer to Canada. I know life here is generally pretty good but for newcomers it is often cold, lonely, confusing, challenging, frustrating and even boring. One of the big bottlenecks to new immigrants making the life they want is language. If you have ever tried to learn a new language you know it takes a lot of time, energy and bravery. I have tried to learn three second languages and still have them all on my 'to do' list. New immigrants to Canada often take English Second Language (ESL) courses where they are often learning their 3rd or 4th or 5th!
My attempt at a better world for today is my weekly (almost) couple hours of tutor time in an entry level ESL / literacy course. This is for people, often refugees, who are very new to English and often weren't literate in their first language. The class is paired with a daycare service to cater to people with young children and it is put on by the Halifax Immigrant Learning Center (HILC). It is my weekly dose of cultural diversity, time with kids, and humility. All things that are often lacking in my life, and I dare say, in the life of most young middle class adults in Canada.
It reminds me that literacy does not mean intelligence (or vice versa), rather it usually means a lack of previous opportunity. It also reminds me of how hard people are trying to become contributing members of society and that supporting these people is a benefit to everyone. In my opinion anyway :)
English and education are gifts most Canadians have, that are free (or often benefit you) to share. Consider it. And give feedback.
My attempt at a better world for today is my weekly (almost) couple hours of tutor time in an entry level ESL / literacy course. This is for people, often refugees, who are very new to English and often weren't literate in their first language. The class is paired with a daycare service to cater to people with young children and it is put on by the Halifax Immigrant Learning Center (HILC). It is my weekly dose of cultural diversity, time with kids, and humility. All things that are often lacking in my life, and I dare say, in the life of most young middle class adults in Canada.
It reminds me that literacy does not mean intelligence (or vice versa), rather it usually means a lack of previous opportunity. It also reminds me of how hard people are trying to become contributing members of society and that supporting these people is a benefit to everyone. In my opinion anyway :)
English and education are gifts most Canadians have, that are free (or often benefit you) to share. Consider it. And give feedback.
Monday, March 9, 2009
The Morality of Economics
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives is a dynamic church-based social justice movement.KAIROS works with its members, partners, and our cross-Canada community based network in the following areas: Ecological justice, Solidarity in Canada, Human rights and trade, and Grassroots action for global justice grounded in the local community
I just heard about KAIROS this weekend and liked one of their actions in particular - a letter to the Canadian Government calling for a moral response to the economic crisis. The full letter can be seen here.
I feel like religious communities provide a valuable contribution to the morals and ethics of our society. They help build communities of moral and spiritual support, often actively caring for the people and addressing larger needs of the population (through things like pastoral care and counselling, advocacy, philanthropy, etc). I don't always agree with the theology or specific approach of different groups, but I still think these communities provide an important voice for the morals of our society. They provide support and tradition for both mourning and celebration. When these communities, or leaders within them, speak out on issues, people take notice and at the very least, critical discussion is generated. Since KAIROS can send a message that represents a large number of these communities I hope that much more notice is taken. I don't know though since I only heard about it at a church which contributes to the organization. It can't hurt to try though, even if no attributable impact shows up in the news that I pay attention to.
So the attempt at a better world is to contribute to the united church Mission and Service fund, which contributes funding to a wide variety groups working on all kinds of issues. KAIROS is one example of an organisation that receives funds from M&S and this letter on the need for moral evaluation of our efforts to stimulate the economy is one example of how a group like this can play a valuable role in bringing about a better world, in my opinion of course.
As always, I would love to hear any feedback on the value of funding something like this, and the value of pushing for a moral response to our current economic woes.
I just heard about KAIROS this weekend and liked one of their actions in particular - a letter to the Canadian Government calling for a moral response to the economic crisis. The full letter can be seen here.
I feel like religious communities provide a valuable contribution to the morals and ethics of our society. They help build communities of moral and spiritual support, often actively caring for the people and addressing larger needs of the population (through things like pastoral care and counselling, advocacy, philanthropy, etc). I don't always agree with the theology or specific approach of different groups, but I still think these communities provide an important voice for the morals of our society. They provide support and tradition for both mourning and celebration. When these communities, or leaders within them, speak out on issues, people take notice and at the very least, critical discussion is generated. Since KAIROS can send a message that represents a large number of these communities I hope that much more notice is taken. I don't know though since I only heard about it at a church which contributes to the organization. It can't hurt to try though, even if no attributable impact shows up in the news that I pay attention to.
So the attempt at a better world is to contribute to the united church Mission and Service fund, which contributes funding to a wide variety groups working on all kinds of issues. KAIROS is one example of an organisation that receives funds from M&S and this letter on the need for moral evaluation of our efforts to stimulate the economy is one example of how a group like this can play a valuable role in bringing about a better world, in my opinion of course.
As always, I would love to hear any feedback on the value of funding something like this, and the value of pushing for a moral response to our current economic woes.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Being a good friend
Today was International Women's Day so I intended to make an attempt to address a gender issue, but it has not happened. I do have a couple ideas that will hopefully be put to action later this week. Here are a couple stats on the status of women in our world currently: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/facts.asp
For today's attempt at a better world though, I tried to be a good friend. I called up a friend I hadn't talked to for quite a while. We talked about careers, school, organizations we care about, the state of human knowledge and, of course, girls.
This was not too public but I do feel it is an important part of my better world. Friends and personal networks are foundations of community. The best ones act both to hold us accountable and challenge and support us in becoming the best human beings we can be. They give us love, purpose, and identity. So I spent a very enjoyable hour or two fostering a quality friendship.
What do you think about the role of friendships and personal community in building a better world? Is this attempt making the world a better place or escaping from my personal pledge.
Regardless, I encourage you to call a friend or family member you haven't talked to in a while. Especially if its a woman or me :)
For today's attempt at a better world though, I tried to be a good friend. I called up a friend I hadn't talked to for quite a while. We talked about careers, school, organizations we care about, the state of human knowledge and, of course, girls.
This was not too public but I do feel it is an important part of my better world. Friends and personal networks are foundations of community. The best ones act both to hold us accountable and challenge and support us in becoming the best human beings we can be. They give us love, purpose, and identity. So I spent a very enjoyable hour or two fostering a quality friendship.
What do you think about the role of friendships and personal community in building a better world? Is this attempt making the world a better place or escaping from my personal pledge.
Regardless, I encourage you to call a friend or family member you haven't talked to in a while. Especially if its a woman or me :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)