Dear Fellow Human Beings,
Are we doing to best we can do?
Or can we do a little bit more to create a better world?
A world where everyone has an open mind
A world of tolerance and acceptance
A world where if one of us rises, we all rise
A world where everyone has a home
A world where every single person get the love and respect they deserve
This is a world that is within our reach
Change won't happen until we make it happen
Let's be brave enough to take action
To be a leader in change
To know that it only takes one person to make a difference
To stand up for each other
It starts with each and every one of us
I pledge to be fearless and kind
To be inclusive
To stand up for those who need my help
And to make a difference whenever I can,
wherever I can, because I can!
These are the words of the Be Fearless Be Kind campaign initiative created by Hasbro. I recently discovered this campaign while attending Hascon 2017 in Providence. Of all the the exciting things I was able to do and see at HasCon (we actually got to meet the team behind My Little Pony -- pretty much a dream come true in this family), this simple pledge has stood with me the most.
Maybe it was the "Dear Fellow Human Beings" that caught my attention. Or maybe it's my love for the idea that little changes add up to big changes. And if we just take a baby step, we can walk a mile. It's probably because I'm just so tired of all the judgement and negativity in the news lately.
But on the brink of a new school year, I'm hopeful this campaign will gain traction in schools and communities across the country. The pledge encourages all of us to be fearless, kind, inclusive and to make a difference. The foundation of the Be Fearless Be Kind campaign focuses on empathy -- the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions and or the ability to share someone else's feelings. The website has great resources (tool kits, printables, videos and curriculum) on how to put empathy into action. Some of my favorites:
- Tip on teaching Mindfulness
- Ashoka's Start Empathy Toolkit
- Project guide for the Joy Maker Challenge
I encourage you to check out the website, print out the pledge and hang it on the refrigerator. To consider implementing some of the resources in your classroom, scout troop meetings, or office. We have a pocket size version of the pledge that we read every morning before school. Encouraging empathy has no age limit.
There's a grant program available through Youth Service America for organizations and K-12 schools who are looking to encourage young people to stand up for others, include everyone, and take action when they see a problem. Application deadline is October 31, 2017 and projects must be completed by December 15, 2017. You can find out more here.
"Are we doing the best we can? Or can we do a little bit more to create a better world?" Yes, a definitive yes, we can all do a little bit more. #befearless #bekind #kindnessmatters #raisethemup
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