Posted on March 18, 2009 by justlists
ref: Complete Guide to Service Learning by Cathryn Berger Kaye, chapter 3
In the Complete Guide to Service Learning, the author recommends creating a Service Learning Bookshelf with books and stories that can teach and motivate young people to read and become inspired to action. Books can lead students to consider many questions:
- What do I have in common with these characters?
- How are the characters’ actions changing how the characters think about themselves?
- What actions are making a difference in the lives of others?
- Are any of the problems or conflicts in the story occurring in my life or the lives of people I know or see?
- What questions do I have after reading this book?
- What can we do to address problems in our community that are similar to the ones described in the book?
These questions can deepen a reader’s relationship with the text as well as to stimulate the reader’s thinking and concern for community needs and issues. Included in your bookshelf might be nonfiction, picture book, and fiction titles that:
- describe the service experiences of others
- introduce important social themes
- tell stories from history
- increase student interest in reading
- promote critical thinking and discussion
- prepare students to interact with diverse populations
- enhance the experiences students have in the community
- inspire students to serve
Learn more proven and practical ways to engage students in civic responsibility, learning, and social action in The Complete Guide to Service Learning by Cathryn Berger Kaye. You’ll find some wonderful ideas and a great reading list of books.
Learn more about Service Learning at reachandteach.com
Filed under: Lists | Tagged: civic engagement, justlists, service learning, social action, youth | Leave a comment »
Posted on September 30, 2008 by justlists
[ref: soulforce.org]
This is the pledge to nonviolence signed by marchers with Mahatma Gandhi in 1921. Gandhi’s birthday is October 2nd.
- A civil resister will harbor no anger.
- A civil resister will suffer the anger of the opponent.
- In so doing, a civil resister will put up with assaults from the opponent, never retaliate; but he will not submit, out of fear of punishment, to any order given in anger.
- A civil resister will voluntarily submit to the arrest and he will not resist the attachment or removal of his own property.
- If a civil resister has any property in his possession as a trustee, he will refuse to surrender it, even though in defending it he might lose his life. He will never retaliate.
- Non-retaliation excludes swearing and cursing.
- A civil resister will never insult his opponent, nor take part in the newly coined cries contrary to the spirit of nonviolence.
- A civil resister will not salute the Union Jack, nor will he insult it or its officials, English or Indian.
- If any one insults an official or commits an assault upon him, a civil resister will protect such official or officials from the insult or assault at the risk of his own life.
This is the pledge to nonviolence taken by marchers with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963
- Meditate daily on the life and teachings of Jesus.
- Remember that the nonviolent movement seeks justice and reconciliation – not victory.
- Walk and talk in the manner of love; for God is love.
- Pray daily to be used by God in order that all men and women might be free.
- Sacrifice personal wishes that all might be free.
- Observe with friend & foes the ordinary rules of courtesy.
- Perform regular service for others and for the world.
- Refrain from violence of fist, tongue, and heart.
- Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.
- Follow the directions of the Movement leaders and of the captains on demonstrations.
Check out the recently published book “After Gandhi – One Hundred Years of Nonviolent Resistance“.
Soulforce is an organization that works for freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance. Soulforce takes its name from the English translation of the Sanskrit word Satyagraha, the philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance developed by Gandhi.
Filed under: Lists | Tagged: civic engagement, civil rights, gandhi, justlists, nonviolence, peace, soulforce | Leave a comment »
Posted on September 8, 2008 by justlists
(ref: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn pg. 243-270)
- If someone says they need money to get on the subway, I will swipe my subway pass for them and pay for their ride that way. (Allan Sih – NY, NY)
- So what if your Dumpster is closer than Goodwill? Put that stuff in your car and drive it over there. It’s one of the easiest, quickest ways people can make a change. (Tamika Brown – Atlanta, GA)
- Help the elderly who live in your community with their house-hold chores, or take them to doctor’s appointments. (Yolanda Hilaire – Houston, TX)
- If you work in the Internet industry and you see that a nonprofit’s Web site needs work, call them up and offer to fix it for free. That’s a huge help that doesn’t involve you ever leaving your chair. (Joel Kunkler – Rochester, NY)
- Coach a local youth sports team. (Luke Higginbotham – Buchanan, VA)
- Talk to those no one else is talking to. Allow no one to be alone. (Zaid Jilani – Kennesaw, GA)
- Plant a tree. (Rachel Higginbotham – Buchanan, VA)
- When you are driving, let someone in if they’re trying to merge. (Janice Myers – Tampa Bay, FL)
- Be kind to animals. (Melanie Mantenieks – Chicago, IL)
- Pick up after your dog when you go on walks. (Susan Bowman – Charlotte, NC)
- I’m tall, so whenever I’m at the store and see someone who needs something off the top shelf, I get it for them. (Julia Clark – Worcester, MA)
- Ever day on my way to school I bring a trash bag and pick up all the trash on the path. It keeps the environment safe, and it’s a good habit to get into. (Becka MacDonald – Mission Viejo, CA)
- Offer directions to people who look lost. Be an ambassador in your city. (Melissa Bieri – NY, NY)
- Welcome someone new to your neighborhood. (Mickey Paxton – Buchanan, VA)
- Take care of the people around you, and they’ll take care of others. (Eric Silverstein, Los Angeles, CA)
- Plant flowers at your park. (Jessica Marshall – New Windsor, NY)
- Join a service-oriented civic club or start your own. (Amber Smith – Raleigh, NC)
- Listen. Take time to get to know the people around you. How many people do you really know? (Kim Wolfinger – Columbus, OH)
- Learn the first names of your acquaintances – neighbors, shop owners, servers, people who work for the same company … (Brad Kane – Sandusky, OH)
- I got in the habit of paying the toll of the person behind me … It’s fun to look at their reactions in the rearview mirror! (Liv Faris – Seattle, WA)
- Recycle everything possible, buy and eat organic as much as possible, use nontoxic dish and clothing detergent,… take your own bag to the market. (Stephanie Hisler – Tampa, FL)
- Tip a little extra when you go out. (Shannon Chettle – San Francisco, CA)
- Give a child a book. If I had all the money in the world, I’d buy every kid a book … (Sue Franzen – Tampa Bay, FL)
- Shake hands with and thank any veteran, of any war, that you happen to meet. (Corey Clark – Suwannee, GA)
- I’m a member of Amnesty International. They have a freedom writer’s component, where all you have to do is write a quick letter to someone about a political prisoner. So simple … and yet how meaningful and important it is for the prisoner to know that they are not forgotten. (Dr. Rachel McClement – Glendale CA)
- I am a member of Freecycle community, where you can post things you want and things you have to give away. It’s a great way to acquire things for free and give new homes to your unwanted possessions. (Amy Woidtke – Seattle, WA)
- Just giving a person a compliment can make their overall attitude change. This, in turn, might even make them treat others better. (Ann Munson – Pequot Lakes, MN)
- Adopt a dog, don’t buy one from a pet store. (Jen Alltop – Bay Area, CA)
- Look past uniforms and let people — the guy who’s repairing something in your home, or the woman who’s emptying your office’s wastebaskets — know that you see them as human beings. Thank them for their work. Look them in the eye. It makes people feel less like wallpaper. (Brenda Tran – Atlanta, GA)
- Help with a stranger’s flat tire. (Arielle Kass – Lawrenceville, GA)
This is an edited subset of the lists, other stories, and quotations contributed by hundreds of people across the United States that can be found in Be the Change! Change the world, Change yourself edited by Michelle Nunn, Cofounder and CEO, Hands On Network.
Filed under: Lists | Tagged: change, civic engagement, justlists | 2 Comments »
Posted on September 5, 2008 by justlists
(ref: Politics and the Pulpit 2008 from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life)
In relatively plain English, Politics and the Pulpit 2008 – A Guide to the Internal Revenue Code Restrictions on the Political Activity of Religious Organizations identifies the following commonly asked questions about what role religious organizations can play during an election. Download the report for answers to these questions. Also check out 16 Things Non-Profits Can and Can’t Do in an Election Year.
- Where do the restrictions on religious organizations’ participation in the political process come from?
- Has this prohibition on political campaign intervention always been part of the Internal Revenue Code?
- Are religious organizations singled out by the political campaign intervention prohibition in the Internal Revenue Code?
- Doesn’t the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protect the right of religious organizations to engage in political activity?
- What political activities are prohibited under the Internal Revenue Code?
- Must religious organizations restrict their discussion of issues during election campaign periods?
- When would an issue discussion violate the political campaign intervention prohibition?
- Are religious organizations permitted to engage in lobbying activities?
- Are religious organizations permitted to participate in referenda, constitutional amendments and similar ballot initiatives?
- What are the consequences if a religious organization engages in excessive lobbying?
- Does the political campaign intervention prohibition apply to the political activities of clergy and other religious leaders?
- When are the political activities of clergy or other religious leaders attributed to their religious organizations?
- Who is considered a candidate?
- What rules apply with respect to candidates for non-elective office?
- May candidates appear in pulpits during worship services?
- What if the candidate appears in a noncandidate capacity?
- What if the candidate is a member of the clergy?
- May religious organizations become involved in voter education?
- May religious organizations publish or distribute voter guides?
- Why must a broad range of issues be covered in voter education materials?
- May religious organizations publish or distribute legislators’ voting records?
- May religious organizations distribute voter education materials prepared by a candidate, political party or PAC?
- May religious organizations sponsor candidate forums?
- May religious organizations conduct voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives?
- May the facilities of religious organizations be used for civic or political events?
- Do special rules apply to websites belonging to religious organizations?
- Do links to candidate-related materials constitute political campaign intervention?
- May religious organizations sell paid political advertising in their publications?
- May a religious organization sell or rent its mailing list to a candidate, political party or PAC?
- What are the penalties if a religious organization violates the political campaign intervention prohibition?
- Does the IRS target churches for enforcement of the political campaign intervention prohibition?
Download the Pew Forum report to see the answers to these questions.
Then, read an excerpt from Loud and Clear in an Election Year and consider buying your own copy of this book to learn more about finding and exercising your lawful voice as a socially responsible non-profit in an election year.
Filed under: Lists | Tagged: civic engagement, elections, justlists, non-profits, religion | Leave a comment »