Can Our Democracy Be Healed?

Storytelling can still hold considerable impact here in the 21st century. Combine that with arts and media and you can take it to a whole new level. COMPATHOS does just this through inspiring and raising awareness by making award-winning films, digital storytelling, and new media storylabs.

This storytelling focuses on change catalysts and collective action that is meant to inspire audiences. Compathos has compiled more than 1500 resources that raise awareness and has made them available on their online platform. It is through the efforts of various nonprofits, independent filmmakers, artists in the area of social change, and entrepreneurial activists that these media efforts have been able to be presented.



Yesterday, we had an election, for which the results have become available today. Unfortunately, many have been extremely disheartened by the results, since the winning candidate, within his person, represents hate and abuse. Our country is sadly in need of healing. So, with that in mind, Compathos' Facebook post presented a link to Parker J. Palmer's book, HEALING THE HEART OF DEMOCRACY.

Those who are concerned about the election results are greatly in need of "The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit". Mr. Palmer stated in his Prelude, "For those of us who want to see democracy survive and thrive - the heart is where everything begins: that grounded place in each of us where can overcome fear, rediscover that we are members of one another, and embrace the conflicts that threaten democracy as openings to new life for us and for our nation."

Alexis de Toqueville coined the phrase "habits of the heart". These are our "ingrained ways of seeing, being, and responding to life that involve our minds, our emotions, our self-images, our concepts of meaning and purpose." Five habits are critically needed to sustain a strong democracy: We are all in this together, An appreciation of "otherness", An ability to hold tension in life-giving ways, A sense of personal voice and agency (speaking and acting our own version of truth), and A capacity to create community.

Further, on the same subject, Terry Tempest Williams noted this, " The human heart is the first home of democracy. It is where we embrace our questions. Can we be equitable? Can we be generous? Can we listen with our whole beings, not just our minds, and offer our attention rather than our opinions? And do we have enough resolve in our hearts to act courageously, relentlessly, without giving up - ever - trusting our fellow citizens to join with us in our determined pursuit of a living democracy?" Poignant questions to ask after this recent election.

Thanks for information from this article on Charter For Compassion: http://www.charterforcompassion.org/compathos; this article from the Center for Courage & Renewal: http://www.couragerenewal.org/habitsoftheheart/; this post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Compathos/posts/10157694412930223; and the above links.

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Helping Foster Youth Transition To Independent Living

A selection of the home products available to transitioning youth.

How many adults remember the day that they moved out of their parents' home, and for the first time, they were on their own? If it happened like mine did, they might remember their parents giving them some old furniture, appliances, and the bed and linens they were using at the old homestead.

But there are some transitioning youth and adults who don't have that. Young people aging out of the foster care system not only don't have the support of the parents who could see them out that big door to the world, but may leave lacking skills, any type of belongings with which to start a household, not to mention only an amount of money that Social Services deems to be enough to make a start. Say, $100, $200, a last check from Social Security for $1000, if that "lucky"?



That departure is sudden; you're 18 years old, bye, you're on your own. If you're lucky, the day can be postponed until age 21. No college, maybe even trying to finish high school once you've been kicked out of the system.

Anyway, Erin Bedell noticed these youth departing from the foster care system in West Palm Beach County, FL, with so little that they would move into these apartments - and have no furnishings/appliances/bed/linens/towels, just the basics. So she started a program, MY OWN HOME PROJECT, INC., which helps to supply these basic household items to foster youth aging out of the system.

How did Ms. Bedell know so much about the needs of these youth to put together such a program? She stated, "I was homeless when I was 15 years old, so I understand how instability can impact a sense of worth and well being at a pivotal time in a young adult's life. We are giving foster youths a sense of safety and security in their new surroundings as well as a sense of pride and ownership. Many of these youths have never owned anything new in their entire lives. We are giving them incentive to work harder for what they have and helping to root them to their new surroundings so that we can see a decrease in transience in this population. They know through us that their community cares about them and wants to see them succeed."

Counselors who are working with aging out youth help to identify those who need help. That youth can then choose items for their household that fit their tastes and lifestyle. The items which they receive are enumerated on the homepage at the above link.

Taylor, a youth who participated in a distribution party, discussed how she was affected, "I just wanted to say thanks so much for putting together your project. It has helped a lot and I'm grateful for being a part of it and for what you have done for me and all the other foster kids....I really do believe it makes a difference and it also shows that there is still hope in this world. One kind act like yours can make a major difference in someone's life."

Erin Bedell (right) hugs a youth benefiting from the Project.

Consider this, if 100 young men and women are aging out of the foster care system in Palm Beach County every year, then how many more must be doing the same throughout the US. These young people don't have the benefit of parental support on this big journey to independence. They need that extra boost to help them make it in this world of ours.

Some of the available decorative items that make a home look like a home.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/erin-udell-my-own-home-project-inc/; My Own Home Project, Inc. homepage, and the above link.

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Bringing Together The Diverse Cultures In Hazelton

Some of the children benefiting from the after school program at HIP.

Not many communities have one of these, but maybe more should. I'm talking about the HAZELTON INTEGRATION PROJECT (HIP), located in the city of Hazleton, PA. Thanks to Hazleton native and Chicago Cubs Manager, Joe Maddon,  (yes, that one, the manager of the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs), HIP is a reality.

The Hazelton One Community Center is the physical base of the organization, a place where economically-challenged children and adults can experience enriching programs, without cost. There are a variety of classes and programs offered, all fostering a sense of dignity and respect among the various cultural groups in the area.



Sports figure rather highly at HIP, since that is one type of activity that links people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Sports has become the means, at HIP, by which individuals join together and get to know each other in a leisurely atmosphere that allows for the understanding and appreciation of both similarities and differences.

On December 16, HIP is hosting Around The Horn With Joe Maddon & Friends!, an evening that promises to be filled with fun, filled with celebrities, and a chance to play casino "games" at the Valley Country Club. This event, of course, takes on added significance with the Cubs' World Championship Professional Baseball title. Open from 6 to 11 PM, this event offers an open bar for three hours, elegant hors d'oeuvres, two carving stations, sports memorabilia, and a photo of Joe & guests. Tickets are limited to 250. Guests must be age 21 or over. Tickets cost $250 per couple and $150 for individuals. This is a fund-raiser for HIP.

The current executive director of HIP is Ben Medina, a gentleman who knows both Spanish and English and has had experience in translating documents. It turns out that Board of Elections supervisor needed some help with bilingual translation for the upcoming election, since the numbers of Spanish-speaking voters had grown in the area.

There were several questions on the ballot applying to amending the home rule charter that required translation, for both the legal language and the voter explanation. That's where Mr. Medina's services came in handy. He said, "I know for a fact that, especially in Hazelton, there are a lot of people who are United States citizens but with the terminology on the ballot, I knew that they were not going to be able to understand it."

Cadets from the Lackawanna College Police Academy donated backpacks to the youngsters in the after school program.

Clear explanations help voters to make better-informed decisions, especially when they are trying to understand technical details of legal changes. Providing the best translation of these changes, Mr. Medina is helping citizen participation in the electoral process, something that Spanish-speaking voters will certainly appreciate when they exercise their voting rights.

Ben Medina in his office at HIP.

Thanks for information from this article on Hazelton Integration Project: http://www.hazletonintegrationproject.com/about-us; this Facebook announcement: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=315002092215538&set=a.130083404040742.1073741827.100011172492258&type=3&theater; this article by Bill Wellock on The Citizens' Voice: http://citizensvoice.com/news/director-of-hazleton-group-translates-ballot-questions-for-spanish-speakers-1.2104619#.WAN1FywUOvY.facebook.

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Small Scale Recycling

The logo designed by the family.

Sometimes you can create a small project just within your family that helps to make life a little better for this world. Every little bit helps, after all, especially if it raises awareness about what can be done, even on a small scale.

Tracy Tunwall and her children, Trae and Carl, started out by taking a trip to their local waste facility, where people throw out their discards, those items they don't want or need any more. In their neighborhood in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, they had noticed a lot of things that people were throwing out after yard sales and estate sales. They knew that these items would just become part of the landfill, composed of other discards, that would just stay there and decay, ever so slowly, if at all.


In other words, in this world where we just throw stuff out, there's a lot of "stuff" that just sits there, maybe seeps into the soil, befouls our water, lets off fumes into the atmosphere, becomes part of the pollution problem, that our planet faces. What could they do? They were two kids and a mom, after all.

This little group came up with a plan to address the issue in their small corner of the planet. Trae and Carl offered to take these leftover, discarded items and salvage them. And the bonus that the neighbors received was not having to cart the "stuff" to the waste facility.

Tracy Tunwall explained, "They approached a couple of people already just to see what the interest level would be and everyone thought it was a great idea. The boys printed out fliers, which explained what their service was, also containing the name of this new service, LITTLEGREENPLA.NET. Tracy continued, "The plan would be to have the kids take the fliers to houses that were having garage sales and ask them to contact us at the end of their sale to set up a time we could pick up and redistribute items that are reusable or could be recreated into art or other functional items."

A garden setting made from discards.

With a small grant, the family was able to purchase a trailer, so that they could collect what remained at the end of local sales. Much of the products that they have remade include new settings for plants and inclusion of the discarded items as artistic backdrops in gardens. So, what was once junk and discards now serves as a way of beautifying the community.

An old toolbox turned into a plant container.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/tracy-tunwall-littlegreenpla-net/; and the above link.

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The Work Of New Windsor Fire & Hose Co No. 1

Getting a look at the new engine.

New Windsor, MD, is a small community located in Carroll County, with just over 1300 residents. Like most communities, it has its own fire department, NEW WINDSOR FIRE & HOSE CO NO. 1. Not only does it engage in fire and rescue, but it also has EMS and Haz-Mat responsibilities.

On Oct. 9, the department dedicated two new pieces of equipment. One was Engine 102, a 2016 Seagrave Marauder II Heavy Duty Rescue-Engine and the other, Utility 10, a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban. The community had invested $70,000 for this public safety equipment. Perry Jones, 2nd Vice President of the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association was Emcee. New Windsor Mayor Neal Roop and Commissioner Steve Wantz were present to offer their support and congratulations.



Back on Aug. 16, at around 4 AM, New Windsor received a call for a motor vehicle accident (MVA) on Avondale Rd. When Paramedic 109 arrived on the scene, they determined that the accident involved two tractor-trailers; one of the involved cabs had become detached from its frame. A call for a second ambulance and Haz Mat Unit went out for a second patient, along with a liquid spill from one of the tractors. Then crews set about containing the spill and caring for the injured. One patient was transported to Shock Trauma by Paramedic 109 and the other went to Carroll Hospital Center by Paramedic 38. The sheriff's office then assumed jurisdiction and completed the clean-up.

In late afternoon on October 17, New Windsor units responded jointly with units from Westminster, Winfield, and Gamber, to a house fire on Old Westminster Rd. Chief 3-1 from New Windsor arrived first and spotted smoke from the rear of the home. He was able to confirm an active fire was present. A few more engines arrived and fire fighters started working the fire. Brush 105 from New Windsor established a water refills site at a dry hydrant on Nicodemus Rd, so engines participating in the rural water supply could refill tankers. Thirty minutes after the first arrival, the fire was under control. Once the fire was out, it was determined that it had damaged the first and second floors of the home. There were no injuries. Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office took over the investigation.

A collision between two tractor trailers required the New Windsor department response.

The department held a fund-raiser on Oct. 11, preceded by an ordering period that ended 10 days before the event; it was a Crab Cake Sale. There were two different types of crab cakes for sale, raw or fried, at a cost of $5.50 each, Each type had designated pick-up times at the firehouse. The New Windsor Auxiliary put in much of the work.

A house fire, with smoke exiting the rear of the house.

Thanks for information from this article by Tom Coe on New Windsor Fire & Hose Co No.1: http://nwfd10.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=505; this article by Tom Coe on the same site: http://nwfd10.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=496; this article by Tom Coe on the same site: http://nwfd10.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=506; this post on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/291085607943318/; and the above link.

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The Circus Arts In Action

Performing in the Old Forester Speakeasy Series at the Frazier History Museum.

Have you ever in your life wanted to join the circus? Have you wanted to add some novelty into physical activity routine, to the point of considering circus-themed physical exercises and moves? If you happen to live in Louisville, KY, you can do exactly that through CIRQUELOUIS.

This organization promotes the preservation of the circus arts through physical training and contemporary circus theatre performances. CirqueLouis has both Circus Strong Academy and Social Circus programs. Participants can engage in both alternative and artistic physical activities.



CirqueLouis instructors can be hired by various organizations for individual classes in a selection of circus arts or a series of workshops - and they will come directly to your studio or school. Each session lasts for 55 minutes. Not only is the skill presented, but instructors also can offer activities focused on trust, communication, and teamwork. Organizations can also hire performance artists for various presentations, both for aerial and ground performances. All of the information can be found on their website.

On December 9, CirqueLouis is presenting Pinocchio at The Kentucky Center, with the performance starting at 8 PM. Tickets cost $25 and Student tickets cost $15. Based on the Carlo Callodi story of Pinocchio, the performance follows the wooden marionette boy's quest to become a real boy. Members of the audience will be entertained by acrobats, aerialists, dancers, and jugglers, who bring the tale to life in the style of the circus, to the accompaniment of selected classical music. The performance is appropriate for all ages. Needless to say, no animals are being used in the performance.

Performance of Pinocchio, via circus arts.

This week, CirqueLouis will be participating in " Yelp's Art in Action 2016" at The Louisville Palace from 7 to 9:30 PM tomorrow evening. This is the third year for this event, which celebrates the Louisville area's creativity. There will be all sorts of interesting and unique scenes available for the evening. All food and activities are free, but attendees must RSVP. Cash bars will also be available. No one under age 21 will be admitted. CirqueLouis is one of four performing groups at this event. There will also be a fashion show and lounge, live and participatory art at the Strive Lounge, various businesses and organizations, plus various vendors of food and treats, along with alcoholic drinks. It's a wonderful evening of entertainment to be sampled all in one place!

At the Louisville Jack O'Lantern Spectacular.

Thanks for information from this write-up on Charter For Compassion: http://www.charterforcompassion.org/cirquelouis; this announcement on The Kentucky Center: https://www.kentuckycenter.org/all-shows/cirquelouis-pinocchio; this announcement on Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/events/louisville-yelps-art-in-action-2016; and the above link.

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Care Farm Demonstrates Harmony With Nature And Farm Animals

Students at John R. Wooden High School go hands on at Kindred Spirits.

For a number of years, there was a farm at John R. Wooden High School in Los Angeles, but no one was taking care of it. That neglected farm did not go unnoticed, however. Karen Snook, a local businesswoman, and some of LA's youth got together, cleaned it up, planted some crops, and the available garden plots started producing.

The farm became known as KINDRED SPIRITS CARE FARM, a place where nature, animals, and people meet. This type of farm draws on a traditional small farm model, common in Europe, in which youth provide the care, the animals live life naturally, and people come to visit to experience the harmony of a natural setting. Fruits and vegetables are harvested, after being grown using the principles of permaculture.



Ms. Snook explained further, "Care farms, by definition, are all about bringing healing and wellness to vulnerable people. Our version of care farming brings in vegan values of compassion to all sentient beings by introducing people to individual farmed animals and showing them that farmed animals are as worthy of love, compassion, and care as any companion animal or other sentient being. The organic gardens teach nutrition and self reliance to at-risk kids to empower them to be less reliant on those who might exploit or abuse them, and it is done in a sustainable way so that the earth is not compromised in service to human survival."

Students have rebuilt some of the farm buildings and now the animals have a safe place to live. All animals housed at the farm have been rescued from abuse situations. Recently, students put together a large greenhouse that offers space for planting and teaching. UCLA has also partnered with Kindred Spirits to create a high school level science-based curriculum based on farming activities, probably the first of its kind.

You can be surrounded by tomatoes in a tomato tunnel at Kindred Spirits.

This year Kindred Spirits Care Farm became the venue for Food Day LA 2016. There was tasty vegan food to sample, farm animals to meet up close and personal, and a chance to get a look at the newly-constructed greenhouse. There was spirited dancing by Bryson and the Pierce College Dance Group, face painting for the kids, an opportunity to see the giant tomato tunnels (tomatoes grown over arches that form a tunnel), a visit to the bunny barn, an enclosure where goats and people could check each other out, time to feed fruit to a llama, a selection of games where kids could learn about kindness. So much to do, and so much enjoyment and peace. A wonderful place for anyone to spend a day.

A visitor to Food Day LA tries some vegan food, served by Sharyn Wynters from 118 Degrees.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/karen-snook-kindred-spirits-care-farm/; this article on Kindred Spirit Farm: http://www.kindredspiritscarefarm.org/what-is-a-care-farm/; this post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KindredSpiritsCareFarm/posts/1410720278957452; and the above link.

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