The Benevolent Society’s Post

Happy Juneteenth! If you’re like me — someone who’s white identified and grew up not even knowing what Juneteenth was — the holiday may, honestly, feel a little awkward to you. I think that’s okay. Acknowledging that discomfort provides the opportunity for growth. If you’re not sure what Juneteenth is all about, this June 19th spend even a little time learning the “reason for the season”. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture is a great place to start to understand the history and meaning of Juneteenth. (https://lnkd.in/emMC2uhF) As an individual, celebrate Juneteenth because you believe in the bedrock American notion of freedom for all. This is not in any way meant as a call to erase the past or to ignore the inequities of the present. Celebrating Juneteenth doesn’t mean we’ve fully met that ideal as a county, but it does recognize a critical moment when the county came closer to living into our stated national beliefs. If you are an employer or leading an institution or organization (a rotary club, a little league, any organization that has meetings, events, or even social media), Juneteenth should be a treated as a holiday in the same way that July 4th and Memorial Day are treated at your organization. Full stop. Whether your organization is made up people from a diverse range of races and ethnicities, or entirely of people that are white-identified (a topic for another day), celebrating Juneteenth is critically important to align our actions with our values. Even adding a floating holiday, honestly, does not cut it. As Maya Angelou said, “equal rights, fair play, justice, are all like the air: we all have it, or none of us has it. That is the truth of it.” If we put our team members in a position of choosing to opt-in or opt-out of that sentiment, how can we ever really expect to live in our most fundamental of shared ideals? #Juneteenth #equity #valuesalignment

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day! Today, we recognize the strength and resilience of Indigenous communities, whose history on this land long predates 1492. It's a time to celebrate the vibrant cultures, traditions, and contributions of Native people in the U.S. today. Want to learn more? Check out this great article from Boys & Girls Clubs of America: What is Indigenous Peoples' Day? How to Celebrate with Kids & Teens. https://lnkd.in/eY2mP7zf

Oral history is an integral part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and beliefs. It is how creation and culture stories - such those of The Dreaming - historical accounts, traditional ecological knowledge and language are passed on from generation to generation. And it has been so for tens of thousands of years. The 2024 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day theme of 'Strong in Culture, Stronger Together' elevates the intention of this annual day, focusing on the strength of children that comes from connection to culture and mob. Children who can't hear, can't learn. For Indigenous children this can mean disconnection from language, history and culture. Earbus Foundation works to reduce the incidence and impact of middle ear disease and hearing loss on Aboriginal and at-risk kids so they can learn through listening and stay connected to their culture today, tomorrow and in the future. #childrensday #strong #culture #ally #aboriginalhealth Image: Earbus Foundation archives

Storytelling is at the heart of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. For tens of thousands of years, the practice has sustained communities, nurtured relationships and highlighted the interconnectedness of child, family and community. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and caregivers have many stories of resilience however, in a therapeutic practice setting, the space to share and reflect on these stories doesn’t always exist. The importance of creating this space is crucial to working with First Nations families. We are dedicated to improving our processes and practices, prioritising cultural sensitivity and respect. We firmly believe in establishing meaningful connections with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people we support and continuing to strengthen the connection they have with their culture, family and community. We believe this is important to ensure that everyone feels respected, acknowledged and empowered. We want to remain trauma-informed in our practices and we solemnly reflect on the tragic impact that the Colonisation of Australia and the Stolen Generation has had, and continues to have on First Nations peoples. So whilst we are in the peak of Reconciliation Week, we want to use this time as a reminder going forward that Now More Than Ever, we need to stay curious about other people's cultural backgrounds, be united with the community and aim to foster stronger connections amongst cultures. 🖤💛❤️ #reconcilationweek24 #becurious #community #connection #culture #family #relationships #children #youngpeople

Again, as am Inter-country adoptee, I recommend reading this article and the series it comes from, to really understand the experiences some in the Inter-country adoptee sphere have lived. https://lnkd.in/eNRFhtcJ

Growing Up Aspen - Adventures of the Unsupervised Twist and Turn Press https://lnkd.in/gMADwC2p The power of community is a transformative force that lies at the heart of any vibrant and resilient society. In a small town like Aspen, where close-knit relationships and shared experiences are part of its essence, the importance of community cannot be overstated. It is through the strength of community that individuals find support, connection, and a sense of belonging, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances. As Aspen continues to evolve and grow, it is crucial for new residents, particularly those with financial means, to recognize the privilege they hold and actively contribute to uplifting those who are less advantaged in the community. This book is written from four kids that went through the Aspen School system and write about the impact the small town of Aspen had on each of them. Learn as they show how Aspen can be that indicator frog for other small tourist towns. Growing Up Aspen is a great time travel through the 70's and 80's. Music by Felix Plante Image courtesy and ©Nick DeWolf Flickr Images #aspenideas #aspen #community #communitysupport #globalchange #makeadifference #storytime #storytelling #growthmindset #worldbuilding #childdevelopment #communications #brandidentity #smalltownliving #Portland #Colorado #memoir #bethechange #goodreads #starbuckscoffee #redbull #outdoormedia #johndenver

For many children who have been adopted, understanding their identity is a lifelong journey. 🌟 As an adoptive parent, supporting your child on this path is vital. 💕 The latest blog by NCHS shares tips for helping your child navigate their identity such as: 🔹 Discussing their adoption story 🔹 Exploring their cultural heritage 🔹 Embracing and celebrating who they are Read more here: https://hubs.ly/Q02nPM8k0

Challenging Ableist Narratives: "A Pox on Resilience" The poem "A Pox on Resilience" aims to deconstruct and critique the prevailing stereotype of the "resilient disabled person" and its impact on the disability community. It advocates for a paradigm shift towards genuine inclusion and accessibility. The work invites individuals to critically examine and challenge these detrimental expectations, emphasising the need for systemic transformation. It advocates for transitioning from resilience-focused discourse to one centred on equity and justice for all. This initiative requires extensive support to drive meaningful change. #DisabilityRights #Inclusion #Ableism #Poetry #SocialJustice #Neurodiversity

Just celebrated the first birthday of my youngest child. Over a decade after migrating to New Zealand and raising two children here, I have come to cherish the culture I came from more. So I arranged this 'first birthday catch' ceremony for him. Basically, you place the items with symbolic meanings for a variety of careers and lifestyles in a half circle, then place the baby in the center, and see what the baby grabs first, which tells parents what kind of life or career the baby will have when he or she grows up. This ritual dates back to around 1500 years ago. The family I was born into doesn't practice it, and I only know a few friends who have done it for their children, aside from reading about it in old stories. And if I were still in China, I probably would not have considered to practice this tradition. Howeve, In my adopted country, I naturally became a part of the ethnic communities. It suddenly makes sense for me to try to learn and preserve more of the culture that I came from, especially after having my children. They are growing up in a place where they are blessed to have dual cultural identities, and it is essential for them to fully embrace those identities equally. Feeling connected to one’s cultural roots and identities sets the foundation of self-respect that will help them thrive in the future. As adults, what we can do is create and foster such a welcoming environment for that to happen. By the way, in case you are wondering, my son picked a jade donut, which also has a history of thousands of years. It is called ‘safe and sound jade’ in Chinese and symbolises that the baby will live a long and peaceful life under the wide sky. What more could we wish for! #culturaldiversity #culturalawareness #culturalintelligence #diversityandinclusion #multicultural #selfacceptance #selfidentity #chineseculture #traditions #ethnic #culturalheritage

Did you know that September 29th is National Day of Belongingness? Creating a sense of belonging in preschool classrooms is so important! We did an entire webinar on this topic with JaneAnn Benson that folks might find interesting. https://lnkd.in/eJfVEagQ