Posts Tagged ‘United States’

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16 Ways to Honor Our Military on Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

Memorial Day is this upcoming Monday, May 28. Time to enjoy a day off work, put on your best white attire, and fire up the back yard barbecue. Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Memorial Day?

Memorial Day was first celebrated in 1865 to honor fallen Union soldiers after the American Civil War. By the 20th Century, Memorial was extended to honor all fallen American soldiers. In 1968, Memorial Day became an official American holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May.

What can you do to honor the true meaning of Memorial Day? Check out today’s ideas below:

  1. Ask your local newspaper editor to include a list of names on Memorial Day of fallen soldiers in your community.
  2. Visit a military cemetery. Put flowers, ribbons, or American flags on soldiers’ graves.
  3. Wear a yellow ribbon in honor of current soldiers or veterans in your community.
  4. Fly an American flag in your yard at half mast to honor the memory of fallen soldiers.
  5. Take a moment of silence during your busy day to observe the military families who have lost a loved one to war.
  6. Write thank you letters for currently serving military or veterans for their service to protecting our country and community members.
  7. Visit a military museum or historic military site.
  8. Organize a community-wide observance to honor the military in your community who have served or who are currently serving.
  9. Change your profile picture to an American flag in honor of the military.
  10. Tell others why you are thankful for the military by using the hashtag #RememberThem on .
  11. Educate your children on the importance of observing Memorial Day and the dedicated service of military men and women.
  12. Volunteer with military families from babysitting children to cooking a meal for a military family in your community.
  13. Hold a donation fundraiser for your community’s veterans’ hospital.
  14. Volunteer with the Red Cross.
  15. Educate yourself on the needs of returning military and educate your community on these needs. Make sure that your community is accurately meeting veteran needs. The Community Blueprint has many educational resources.
  16. Get involved with the Got Your 6 Campaign.

It is important to always remember the dedicated service of military men and women. Their dedication to service is truly inspirational to every American, especially all of us in the nonprofit volunteer sector.

However your decide to celebrate Memorial Day this upcoming Monday, take time to honor those who have given their lives for our country’s freedom.

How are you honoring the military for Memorial Day? We would love for you to share in the comments section below!

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Posted in Events, Military | 9 Comments »

Happy Birthday to the American Red Cross!

Monday, May 21st, 2012

On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton and a circle of colleagues founded the American Red Cross. Barton and colleagues originally founded the Red Cross to aid injured war soldiers during the Civil War.

Prior to World War I, the American Red Cross developed its first water safety, first aid, and nursing initiatives. From 1914 to 1917 the number of Red Cross chapters, nation-wide, increased to 3,864 in order to aid the war effort. In 1918, Red Cross nurses helped combat the influenza epidemic.

After World War I, the American Red Cross focused their efforts on veteran relief and safety education. The American Red Cross also expanded their services to disaster victim relief and services.

Similar to World War I, the American Red Cross played a major role in World War II from supplies to providing nurses. Post World War II, the American Red Cross held the first nation-wide blood supply drive.

Since World War II, the Red Cross has expanded its services to biomedical research, human tissue collection, civil defense, CPR/AED training, HIV/AIDS education, and disaster victim support. The Red Cross also helped the federal government form the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Since founding the Red Crescent Societies in 1919, the American Red Cross has joined more than 175 other national societies in bringing aid to international victims of disasters.

Today we celebrate the amazing contributions the American Red Cross has given not only the United States, but also the entire world. Let us remember some of these accomplishments by reading the list below:

  • The American Red Cross supplies 40 percent of the nation’s entire blood supply
  • The American Red Cross supplies over 3,000 national hospitals’ blood supply
  • Over 200,000 blood drive are held across the United States, annually
  • During Hurricane Katrina, over 2,000 Red Cross volunteers provided relief
  • The American Red Cross allocated $314.7 million in disaster relief donations to victims of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake.
  • In 2001, the American Red Cross partnered with other world organization in the Measles Initiative. Since 2001, the Measles Initiative has helped vaccinate over 1 billion children in over 60 developing countries.
  • Each year, the American Red Cross responds to over 70,000 disasters.
  • Over 12 million Americans are trained in CPR/AED annually with the American Red Cross course.
  • The American Red Cross provides one-quarter of the nation’s plasma supply through their volunteer services.

These accomplishments would not be possible without the 131 years of American Red Cross existence. May 21 is the day to celebrate the birthday of such an amazing volunteer organization. Take a minute to thank your local Red Cross chapter for the all the work they do.

Do you want to get involved with the American Red Cross? You have a great deal of volunteer options from holding a blood drive to hosting CPR training. Check out the official Red Cross site today to learn more about volunteering opportunities near you and find a local chapter close to your community.

Have you been touched by the Red Cross? We would love to hear your story in the comments section below!

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Posted in Disaster Relief, Emergency Preparedness, Events, Inspire, Military, Mobilize, Service, Volunteerism | No Comments »

April 19-25 Marks the Anniversaries of Last year’s Deadly Tornadoes

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

April 19-25 marks the anniversaries of last year’s deadly tornadoes that ravaged the Midwestern and southern regions of the United States. In about a week, three tornadoes hit Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Missouri, leaving behind a path of flattened homes and severe damage to the St. Louis area airport. Ultimately, in 2011 there were 550 confirmed fatalities- the most deaths in a single year for tornadoes in US history.

While we hope that Mother Nature shows us mercy this season by graciously allowing us to have a tornado-free spring, we also want you to be safe in the event of a tornado occurring this year and for years to come. Check out these 6 steps to prepare you and your family for in the event of a tornado.

  1. During any storm, listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about watches and warnings.
  2. Know your community’s warning system. Communities have different ways of warning residents ab
  3. out tornados, with many having sirens intended for outdoor warning purposes. Pick a safe room in your home where household members and pets may gather during a tornado. This should be a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  4. The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement or safe room. If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative. Do not seek shelter in a hallway or bathroom of a mobile home. If you have access to a sturdy shelter or a vehicle, abandon your mobile home immediately. Go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately, using your seat belt if driving. Do not wait until you see the tornado.
  5. After a tornado, continue listening to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions.
  6. If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so.

 

Remember, if a tornado hits your community, after ensuring that your family is safe, volunteer to help your fellow community members to recover and clean up. For more information on how to prepare you and your family before, during, and after a tornado strikes check out the Red Cross!

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Posted in Disaster Relief, Emergency Preparedness | No Comments »

It’s AmeriCorps Week, but what is AmeriCorps?

Monday, March 12th, 2012

Hooray, hooray! Happy AmeriCorps Week everyone! Let’s kick off the week by explaining what exactly AmeriCorps is, in case you still do not know.

AmeriCorps is a United States federal government organization set up under former President Bill Clinton, and it was later expanded under President George W. Bush. AmeriCorps is a division of the Corporation for National and Community Service whose focus ranges from service in education to the environment. Each year AmeriCorps offers more than 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities in a variety of ways.

Why is AmeriCorps the coolest?

Your term of service through AmeriCorps will have multiple benefits. By serving in an AmeriCorps program, members become eligible to for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. This award can be used toward the payment of student loans or graduate school tuition. Many programs offer an allowance that will cover the basic costs of living.

A term of service will also be beneficial when searching for professional work. Those who make a commitment to service have better networking options, and become more competitive in the job force, than those who do not. Members also have the opportunity to develop skills that they may not have had the chance to use otherwise.

What options do you have?

AmeriCorps is split into three different programs that have different focuses.

  • AmeriCorps State and National: Refers to a broad range of service areas in your local community. The main focus is intensive service in community programs. Members have the opportunity to serve in a variety of agencies including faith-based, community organizations, higher education, and public agencies. Their goals are to raise awareness in the fields of education, environment, public safety, and health. They engage in direct service such as after-school tutoring, volunteer recruitment, and capacity building.

Does AmeriCorps State and National Work?

  • AmeriCorps VISTA: VISTA was originally created under Lyndon Johnson as a way to fight poverty. Former president Bill Clinton brought it under the AmeriCorps program during his presidency. There are currently over 5,000 VISTAs serving throughout the country in various organizations. They work to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, and strengthen community groups.

Does AmeriCorps VISTA Work?

  • AmeriCorps NCCC: NCCC is a full-time program for adults ranging from the ages of 18 to 24. NCCC stands for National Civilian Community Corps. Their goal is to strengthen communities, while building leaders out of team service. NCCC members focus on aiding national crises.

Does AmeriCorps NCCC Work?

AmeriCorps Week is March 10-18, it is the perfect time to recognize and celebrate the dedication to service that AmeriCorps members make every year. There are many great ways to get involved in celebrating AmeriCorps and service this week! The theme for this week is AmeriCorps Works. Although, these are just a few examples of how it works, you can see that AmeriCorps truly accomplishes its goals and provides a great deal of service to our communities.

Now that you know more about AmeriCorps, how will you show that it works?

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Posted in Service, Volunteering | 1 Comment »

It’s Time to Feed the Hungry in March

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

In 2010, it was reported that a record 17.2 million American households were food insecure. This was the highest number ever reported in United States history. Although the American economy is slowly starting to pick up, food insecurity is still a major concern in the daily lives of Americans.

The media is constantly reporting about the problems of childhood obesity, food insecurity, and malnutrition. With all these negative topics, it is easy to feel overwhelmed to the point that it feels like there is nothing that can be done.

March is the perfect month to become proactive about this issue. Why? March is National Nutrition Month!

  1. The obvious, but always helpful: Volunteer at your community food bank or soup kitchen. These organizations are always appreciative of some extra hands.
  2. Volunteer with organizations focused on hunger: Nonprofits such as Feeding America, FoodCorps, Meals on Wheels, and many others are great sources to not only find volunteering opportunities, but also to get facts on hunger and who it affects.
  3. Hold a canned food drive: Food banks always need donations, especially after the holidays when their shelves run low. There are many ways that you can spice up your canned food drive. It is a great way to get your whole community involved to tackle hunger.
  4. Tackle hunger as a team: Organizations such as generationOn have excellent resources to tackle hunger with your family, neighbors, or friends. Make fighting hunger fun by turning it into a competitive game.
  5. Educate your community about nutrition: Obesity is a serious issue, especially in communities where food diversity is scarce. Talk to your local school about teaching students about the benefits of good food choices. Suggest healthier lunch options, if they are not already available.
  6. Join the local food movement: Encourage your friends and family to buy local. Your body will be thankful that you are feeding it well! Your local farmers will be happy that you are supporting them too.
  7. Got leftovers? If you have a decent amount of leftovers after dinner, give them to someone who truly needs them, instead of taking them home to the dog.
  8. Raise money for organizations that feed the community: Hold a fundraiser at your child’s school, your church, workplace, or neighborhood. You can donate the proceeds to your community’s soup kitchen, food bank, or your favorite hunger cause.
  9. Spend a day in the life of the hungry: Volunteer to fast for a day, see what it is like to be hungry.
  10. Lobby to get better food options: Does your local school not provide nutritious lunches to school children? Have you noticed that your community only has fast food options for its residents? Make a change! Educate your community members on the harmful effects of bad nutrition and make a plan to make a change.

 

By incorporating just one of these tips into your volunteering schedule, you can really make a difference in the American hunger statistic!

Are you volunteering to end hunger? We’d love to hear about it in the comment section below!

Tags: Drive (charity), , , Food security, Nutrition, Soup kitchen,
Posted in Service, Volunteering | 2 Comments »

Spread the Volunteer Love for National Volunteer Week

Monday, March 5th, 2012

This year’s National Volunteer Week is April 15 through April 21! It’s a week dedicated to recognizing and honoring the amazing work of volunteers throughout the nation. Whether you’re serving your local school, nursing home, community organization, or mentoring someone, the service volunteers provide is PRICELESS, ha ha no pun intended! But in all seriousness, we are so thankful for the great service of volunteers and want offer you 4 ways to honor volunteers during National Volunteer Week or year-around.

  1. The Daily Point of Light Award: The Daily Point of Light Award was established by former President George H. W. Bush to engage individuals, families, businesses and groups to solve community problems through voluntary service. Recognize an individual or group that is inspiring change through voluntary action by submitting a nomination for the Daily Point of Light Award. If selected, your nominee will join an esteemed group of volunteers recognized on the Points of Light blog for their leadership and voluntary service, and receive a certificate signed by President George H. W. Bush and Points of Light Institute CEO Michelle Nunn honoring their achievement!
  2. Recognize a Point of Light on the Pointsoflight.org Tribute Wall: The Points of Light tribute wall provides you with access to an online community dedicated to recognizing volunteers. Whether you’re shouting out George H.W. Bush or posting a video or simply writing kind words about how a volunteer has inspired you or changed your life, the tribute wall is a way to point out the Points of Light in your life and/or your community.
  3. The President’s Volunteer Service Award: Established in 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation created the President’s Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service, encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation, and inspires others to make service a central part of their lives. The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.
  4. Celebrate people who went the Extra Mile: If you’re visiting the Washington, DC area or just surfing the exciting highways of the world wide web, visit the Extra Mile national monument. This new national monument in the heart of Washington, D.C. is a testament to the tradition, spirit and culture of service in America. From founders of major service organizations to civil rights leadersExtra Mile, the monument tells the story of people who have gone the “extra mile” to help others realize a better America. Comprised of a series of bronze medallions, it will form a one-mile walking path just blocks from the White House.

No matter what you do to recognize volunteers, make sure they know that their services help to improve your life or spark a light of volunteerism and inspiration in their community. Comment and tell us how you plan to honor your volunteers during National Volunteer Week and beyond!

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The President Wants to Recognize You for Your Great Work!

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

For more than two decades, Points of Light honors and encourages organizations throughout the nation to celebrate National Volunteer Week, providing visibility, thematic focus and resources to enable them to commemorate this signature week of volunteer recognition,. National Volunteer Week is April 15-21, 2012.

During National Volunteer Week, we at Points of Light and HandsOn Network encourage people to recognize the outstanding impact of volunteers with the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Created by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, the President’s Volunteer Service Award program is a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. 

Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service, encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation, and inspires others to make service a central part of their lives. The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.

To date, the President’s Council has partnered with more than 80 leadership organizations and more than 28,000 certifying organizations to bestow more than 1.5 million awards to the Nation’s deserving volunteers.

Depending on which award package is ordered, award recipients can receive: An official President’s Volunteer Service Award lapel pin, a personalized certificate of achievement or a congratulatory letter from the President of the United States.

Any individual, family, or group can receive Presidential recognition for volunteer hours earned over a 12-month period or over the course of a lifetime at home or abroad. The following are the eligibility requirements for each age group: Kids, age 5-14, young adults, individuals age 15-25, and adults age 26 and up.

Criterion for the bronze presidential award include the completion of  50-74 service hours for kids, 100 to 174 hours for Young Adults, 100 to 249 hours for adults, and 200 to 499 hours for families and groups.

Criterion for the silver presidential award include the completion of 75 to 99 hours for Kids, 175 to 249 hours for Young Adults, 250 to 499 hours for adults, and 500 to 999 hours for families and groups.

Criterion for the gold presidential award include the completion of 100 hours or more for kids, 250 hours or more for young adults, 500 hours or more for adults, and 1000 hours or more for families and groups.

Additionally, volunteers of all ages with 4,000 or more service hours over a lifetime can receive the President’s Call to service award.

We hope that during National Volunteer Week and throughout the year, you choose to recognize and honor volunteers with the Presidential service award for their amazing service and impact on their communities.

 

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Posted in Family Volunteering, Impact, Mobilize, Service, Volunteer Recognition | No Comments »

HandsOn Manila and the Ati Community of Boracay

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Today’s post comes from Brandon Kwong the Development & Marketing Coordinator for the Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc.

Brandon was born and raised in the San Francisco area of California, and attended the University of California, Irvine—receiving a BA in Psychology & Social Behavior with minors in Educational Studies and Urban & Regional Planning. He now resides in Atlanta, GA where he works at the Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc. (CPACS) as the Development & Marketing Coordinator. At the time period of which this blog post describes, Brandon was an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) serving at CPACS.

This past October, under very unique circumstances, my friend and I had the chance to go overseas to the Philippines for a Volunteer Vacation through HandsOn Network/ HandsOn Manila. This incredible opportunity was especially astonishing for me; being a 4th generation Chinese American, I had never traveled to anywhere in Asia, let alone been outside of the United States. Our travels first began by flying into Manila (from Georgia to California, to Japan, then to the Philippines), arriving really late at night. Getting off the plane, we had no idea what to expect or where we were supposed to go—or who we were even supposed to meet for that matter. After stumbling around the airport for a bit, we were thankfully greeted by a few representatives from HandsOn Manila. While riding in the shuttle and looking out the windows, I was in complete awe of the surrounding cityscape. Even though all of the buildings, streets, highways, and bridges seemed nothing more than what I would have normally seen in a semi-congested US city, it was still quite surreal.

The next morning, we were greeted and picked up by Ms. Perrey Belen, our to-be guide for the rest of our trip in the Philippines. Perrey took us to the HandsOn Manila office, which was a very small yet humbling space. We were introduced to all of the services and volunteer opportunities that HandsOn Manila provides and coordinates. Despite their size, it was an incredible honor to work with such an established organization that truly provides the driving force for volunteer mobilization, utilizing corporate and civic engagement within Manila and the Philippines. While at HandsOn Manila, we also learned about the community we would be serving during our time in Boracay, a tourist island south of Manila that has been ranked as the 2011 World’s 4th Best Choice island to see.

The Ati community pertains to the indigenous people of Boracay, who have been forced to relocate from their original homes due to the high tourism of the island. Most of the Ati live in small makeshift communities in the back of the island, away from the main tourist areas. We were told that the Ati are not even allowed on the main tourist beaches because of their much darker complexion. The particular Ati community we volunteered at was organized by a small group of nuns, led by Sister Victoria. These nuns have a partnership with HandsOn Manila to have volunteers come in and help with their daycare and school. Sister Victoria explained to us that a while ago, the government had awarded land to the Ati community. However, they are still unable to occupy the land that was set appointed to them because of large resistance by claimants and private property owners.

Arriving in Boracay—first by plane, then boat, and finally by tricycle (a motorcycle with an attached covered side-carriage, and the primary mode of transportation around the island)—it was undeniably the most beautiful place I had ever seen; by the end of the trip, I was convinced I would probably never experience any such beautiful place again in my life. After getting off the tricycle, we quickly got settled and hopped on another tricycle where Perrey took us to meet the Ati we would be working with for the next couple of days.

We started off our first day with the Ati by going to the school/ daycare where the ages of kids ranged from about 4 to 10. During the day, many of the adults are away working, and the children are taken care of by the nuns and a few other Ati adults. We served the children breakfast, which had juice and a small piece of bread for each little one. HandsOn Manila had provided us with various coloring workbooks to give to the kids. It was a little bit difficult since the Ati children did not speak English at all. In fact, they don’t even speak Tagalog (the most commonly spoken Filipino language), but a completely different dialect, so they are unable to communicate with many of the Filipinos around Boracay. Fortunately, most of the kids were quick learners, and were good enough to teach the others in their own language.

After spending instructional time with the children, they were most excited to play with my friend and I while the Ati adults were beginning to prepare lunch in the back. Playing with the kids was honestly one of the most fun activities. In their culture, the Ati do not normally have any formal education system or any concepts of a school. The nuns first introduced the idea of a school, as well as introducing the children to wearing clothes. Thus, the kids were purely happiest when just playing around. Taking a break from the kids, my friend and I went to the back to help prepare and serve their lunch. Ati food primarily consists of a lot of soups and leafy greens with very minimal spices.

We left after serving all of the children and after trying a small bowl for the three of us, but we came back the next day with small gifts we had bought from the market—markers, erasers, and various stickers with numbers and the alphabet. This time around, we arrived in time to jump in and play with the kids in a few of their native games and help cook another meal for everyone. Overall, it was incredible learning about and experiencing the Ati culture. I can only hope the resettlement of the Ati community in Boracay becomes resolved soon between the government and property owners.

To learn more about HandsOn Manila visit: http://www.handsonmanila.org.ph/main/

To learn more about Volunteer Vacations visit: http://www.handsonmanila.org.ph/volunteervacations/

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Posted in Service, Volunteering, Volunteerism | 1 Comment »

Join the Conversation about Haiti

Friday, February 10th, 2012

If you have been following our social media channels lately, you may be asking yourself what is this #Haiti365 stuff? It is a good thing you are reading our blog today because we are about to tell you exactly why we are talking about this and why HandsOn Network love this campaign.

For the second anniversary of the Haiti earthquake, UNICEF USA wanted to show the country’s resilience and bring to light the daily challenges Haitian people still face daily. UNICEF USA decided to solve their desire through the use of social media to bring attention back to Haiti.

UNICEF USA brought the voices of Haiti’s youth to the attention of viewers through their Haiti365 Conversation project. Haiti365 has become a unique forum for viewers to respond to children’s questions about various topics such as gender equality, education, and Justin Bieber. UNICEF believes that youth are central to the recovery of Haiti, and through this project they can bring current issues to the world’s attention.

How did this project get started?

Last summer, UNICEF selected a group of young people to attend a high level summit on youth at the United Nations. For most of the Haitian youth who attended the summit, it was their first time ever visiting the United States.

The children had many questions for the General Assembly and the United Nations Round Table discussion on climate change about the state of their country and its recovery.

After the children addressed the United Nations, they had questions for their international peers. That is where the Haiti365 conversation comes into action.

How can you get involved?

Interested viewers can visit the Haiti365 website to join the conversation. Visitors to the website have the option of listening and responding to one or more of the 12 questions posed by Haitian youth. Those asking the questions are either children in the range of 9 to 11 years old or young adults 19 to 22 years old.

Viewers have the option of responding to the videos by text or video recording. Viewers also have the option of asking a peer in Haiti a question of interest. UNICEF USA will also send out text messages with questions from Haitian youth that can be answered by subscribers. Those who respond to the questions also have the option of responding in Creole or English depending on preference.

This campaign is a great way to get the conversation about Haiti’s recovery started. Who knows the impact that your question or answer can make on the future! UNICEF’s campaign is a great way to raise awareness for the country of Haiti. Please join us in bringing attention to the conversation; your participation will make a huge impression especially on the children of Haiti!

About UNICEF:

UNICEF has saved more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in more than 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health and immunizations, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency and disaster relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.

UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress: the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from more than 12 million in 1990 to 7.6 million in 2010. But still, 21,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood.

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Posted in Disaster Relief, Neighboring, Social Media, Voice of Change | No Comments »

5 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Black History Month celebrates contributions made by African Americans and people of African descent around the world. It was started by an African American man named Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926.  Back then, it was called Negro History Week and was celebrated the second week of February.  Now it is celebrated for the whole month of February in the United States and Canada.

Here are five ways you and your family can celebrate Black History Month with you and your family.

  1. Yes we can… change the world, find cures for diseases, or feed the hungry. Inspired by President Barack Obama’s famous 2008 presidential campaign phrase, “Yes we can,” Kids can decorate cans  to raise money for their favorite cause or charity to ultimately make Earth a better place.
  2. African-Americans and Canadians have made tremendous contributions to every facet of life—from science to music to athletics. Take your family to a local museum to learn about the significant contributions of African Americans.
  3. Jackie Robinson, Sojourner Truth, George Washington Carver,
    are just some of the renowned African Americans to be celebrated during February and throughout American history. Go to your local school and host a seminar detailing the history of Black History Month and the historical events and contributions of African Americans. 
  4. Attend a storytelling performance with your family. The West African storytelling tradition of griot, or village storyteller, is a great way to celebrate Black History Month. The dramatic storytelling and puppetry storytelling brings Black history to life with the stories of various African-Americans who have contributed to American History.
  5. Puzzles!!! Who doesn’t love a good puzzle! For you and your family, solving crossword puzzles is another way for children and adults to improve concentration and memory. Look online for websites devoted to Black History Month Crossword puzzles, you’ll find printable, criss-cross style crossword games for primary level students as well as those at the secondary and even the college level.

Black History Month is an excellent way to learn about all of the amazing contributions of African Americans and to spend time with your family. Tell us how you plan on celebrating Black History Month in the COMMENTS.

 

Tags: AfricanAmerican, , Black History Month, Carter G. Woodson, George Washington Carver, Jackie Robinson, Sojourner Truth,
Posted in Education, Events, Volunteerism | 1 Comment »

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