All Star Mentor "Reading the World" Synthesis Pages!

"Reading" the World

Social Justice Issues are everywhere...your job is, for the next few days, to observe the world around while considering: What is fair? Unfair? Where and what and who do I see trying to make the world a better place? Where do I see things happening that make me angry? Inspired? You will probably see a combination of positive and negative things out there in the world...they serve as inspiration AND motivation.

They might be...

1. On the news...Malala Yousafzai with Diane Sawyer

2. In a commericial...#LikeAGirl by always

3. From an internet search...Trash Orchestra

4. From a walk around the neighborhood...trash on the turf after lunch, too many plastic bags

5. From a book...

6. From people you know...

   Do you know people who volunteer? This is my great-aunt who dedicated her life--right up until she died--to helping war veterans in her Washington Heights neighborhood. After she died, they named a street after her! 

Do you know people who try to make the world a better place in small ways that often go unnoticed by most people? These are my parents.  They both have lived lives where they volunteer, donate, and will be there for someone at the drop of a hat.  They recently sent a donation of money for me to buy books for our library and most of the markers in this classroom have been sent from my mom in Kentucky! They also go out of their way to visit friends who are sick, to make food for neighbors to brighten their day, and they even painted my brother's whole apartment! 

You can also ask your family and friends who and what inspires them to make the world a better place! 

7. From organizations in your neighborhood or city that inspire you...

What organizations have you participated in? Do you know people who have started any? This is my friend Faith who was so troubled by the fact that human trafficking still exists that she started a non-profit company called Restore to help those who have been rescued here in New York City.

So! Your job is to spend the next few days closely "reading" the world.  By Monday, you need to have a list of what you notice and be ready to share with your table and the class.  Include at least five items and explain each one with at least two sentences.  Check out these older blog posts to find more internet sources related to social justice.  

Social Action Wrap Up/Nonfiction worth checking out

I have read and been inspired by a number of social action stories this week.  Here are links to read and discover on your own.  If you are moved by one, please write your next blog post in response.

Anonymous Donors Pay Off Kmart Layaways

Time Magazine names "The Protester" their Person of the Year.  Click HERE for a photo essay of 35 different protesters.  Click HERE to read the stories behind this choice.

Google just donated millions of dollars to help fight human trafficking. Read the story HERE.

Google's marketing campaign to raise awareness also includes a Slavery Footprint interactive tool for individuals to become educated on how people are contributing to modern day slavery.  Visit Slavery Footprint and check it out for yourself. 

Social Action Immersion Lesson: What social issues are people fighting for?

Today's experience is designed so that you can see a wide variety social issues that people care about.  The links below combined with your handout will guide you.  These sites may even send you to additional links and organizations. It is important to go into this search with a serious attitude.  None of these subjects are to be taken lightly. The goal is for you to not only be exposed to a number of issues, but also to begin to narrow down topics that  you care about and want to pursue during our social action unit.  This post will also be a resource to you later down the road when you are researching.

General Searching for Issues and Topics
The Free Child Project chronicles ways that kids are trying to change the world.  This link will lead you to a list of social issues that kids have shown interest in.  Click through some of those issues to find basic information as well as further links to organizations doing something about the issue.  Remember that ultimately your audience will be a child, so keep that in mind as you are searching.

Environmental
At Our Earth, you can search for various environmental protection groups and find ones making a difference in New York City.

Animal Rights
ASPCA works for the rights of animals. Know ahead of time that some animal rights issues are hard to see. Click only on what you are comfortable with.

Local Poverty
The Robinhood Foundation works to fight poverty in New York City. Click on the link to see who they are helping and about their core mission.

 International Povery
 Scroll down to the bottom of this wikipedia entry on "World on Fire" to find links to all of the charities that were mentioned in the video.

Human Rights
Amnesty International fights for human rights. 


Human Trafficking:
If you are interested in this topic, please see Ms. Robbins for websites to direct you towards both international and local organizations.

At home (or if you have time) if you are interested in the arts and how they connect to social action, check out these links:

Art and Social Action: This link is actually to a lesson plan for an art class, but you can scroll down to the "resources" list and beyond to find links toartists who made social action statements

Great Protest Songs: This blog has a collection of songs and videos that show the history of what people have been fighting for and against by studying music. You will have to watch the video portion at home. A google search will also lead you to other websites that showcase protest songs.

World On Fire Video Link

If you want to rewatch the "World on Fire" video we watched in class, you can find it HERE.