Thursday, April 27, 2017

National Volunteer Week 2017: Pauline Asbury; Heritage Weaver at Casady School

Pauline Asbury provided heritage basket weaving classes at Harper 3rd hour (Music time) to Activities. 16 students and faculty participated during their spare time from academics, arts, and socializing.  They made pencil holders following two different weaving techniques.


Ready for session one at Music Time

3rd hour






  


4th hour














Activities



The Compassion Games Missions continued

Reflect On Yesterday's Mission


Before moving on to Mission #6, reflect on yesterday's mission, Love WisdomWas it difficult to view yourself as an already whole, valuable human being, despite what you might or might not own? Do you think this shift in thinking makes a difference for the planet? How might you continue to connect more with those around you to get what you need, and also help others? Share your wonderful reflections and stories on the Compassion Report Map!
Agents, our sixth mission is to RSVP for a local event or activity that supports the protection and regeneration of our Mother Earth!

"UNLESS
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better, it’s not.” 
― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

In Dr. Seuss's story The Lorax, a single seed in the hands of someone who truly cared was all it took to regrow an entire forest. This, amazingly, is not far from the truth!

Human beings are a lot like seeds.Even if we’ve been hurt or neglected - like a seed that has not been planted in a long time, or a plant that has begun to wither - given the right conditions, we can still recover and grow and find new life. As we act with compassion on behalf of the Earth and all her creatures, we can begin to feel new life stir within us, and then SPRING into being as we join our place as good caretakers in the web of life. It begins with each of us!
Our mission today, Agents, is to discover an activity or event taking place near your home that is celebrating Earth Month by giving back to the Earth in some way.

It may be an ecosystem recovery project, a tree planting event, a beach or park clean up, or even a gardening event. Identify an event in your community that is helping to regenerate the Earth, RSVP to it, and then go to that event tomorrow for Earth Day or over the weekend in honor of Earth Day!
(See resources for finding an event below!)
Invite your friends to go with you! There’s enough life-affirming, regenerative fun to go around for everyone!
Find an Earth Month Event!

Use the Earth Day Network global event map to find an event in your area! Literally thousands of events are taking place around the world, so there is bound to be one near you. Are you organizing an event? You can add it to the map, too.



Find an Event Here!


Each day during Earth Week, the Compassion Torch will be passed to a different Champion of Compassion. For Day 6 of the Earth Week, we are thrilled to pass the Compassion Torch from Unify to Earth Gratitude!

View Past Missions!

Previously released Serve the Earth Week missions are available to be viewed here. It's never too late to revisit past or missed missions to find inspiration for igniting compassion for Mother Earth!


 1
The good man is the friend of all living things. ---Gandhi-

The "Honorable Harvest": Lessons From an Indigenous Tradition of Giving Thanks

--by Robin Wall Kimmerer, syndicated from Yes Magazine, Apr 27, 2017
What if this holiday season we fill our shopping baskets with only that which is needed and give something back in return?
harvest-by-shutterstock-650.jpg

In this season of harvest, our baskets are full, rounded with fragrant apples and heaped with winter squash. So too are the steel shopping carts that clatter across the parking lot, plastic bags whipping in the wind. How do we even name such abundance? Are these commodities? Natural resources? Ecosystem services? In the indigenous worldview, we call them gifts.
We are showered every day with the gifts of the Earth: air to breathe, fresh water, the companionship of geese and maples—and food. Since we lack the gift of photosynthesis, we animals are destined by biology to be utterly dependent upon the lives of others, the inherently generous, more-than-human persons with whom we share the planet.
If we understand the Earth as just a collection of objects, then apples and the land that offers them fall outside our circle of moral consideration. We tell ourselves that we can use them however we please, because their lives don’t matter. But in a worldview that understands them as persons, their lives matter very much. Recognition of personhood does not mean that we don’t consume, but that we are accountable for the lives that we take. When we speak of the living world as kin, we also are called to act in new ways, so that when we take those lives, we must do it in such a way that brings honor to the life that is taken and honor to the ones receiving it.
The canon of indigenous principles that govern the exchange of life for life is known as the Honorable Harvest. They are “rules” of sorts that govern our taking, so that the world is as rich for the seventh generation as it is for us. 
The Honorable Harvest, a practice both ancient and urgent, applies to every exchange between people and the Earth. Its protocol is not written down, but if it were, it would look something like this:
Ask permission of the ones whose lives you seek. Abide by the answer.
Never take the first. Never take the last.
Harvest in a way that minimizes harm. 
Take only what you need and leave some for others.
Use everything that you take. 
Take only that which is given to you. 
Share it, as the Earth has shared with you. 
Be grateful. 
Reciprocate the gift.
Sustain the ones who sustain you, and the Earth will last forever.
Though we live in a world made of gifts, we find ourselves harnessed to institutions and an economy that relentlessly ask, “What more can we take from the Earth?” In order for balance to occur, we cannot keep taking without replenishing. Don’t we need to ask, “What can we give?”
The Honorable Harvest is a covenant of reciprocity between humans and the land. This simple list may seem like a quaint prescription for how to pick berries, but it is the root of a sophisticated ethical protocol that could guide us in a time when unbridled exploitation threatens the life that surrounds us. Western economies and institutions enmesh us all in a profoundly dishonorable harvest. Collectively, by assent or by inaction, we have chosen the policies we live by. We can choose again.
What if the Honorable Harvest were the law of the land? And humans—not just plants and animals—fulfilled the purpose of supporting the lives of others? What would the world look like if a developer poised to convert a meadow to a shopping mall had first to ask permission of the meadowlarks and the goldenrod? And abide by their answer? What if we fill our shopping baskets with only that which is needed and give something back in return?  
How can we reciprocate the gifts of the Earth? In gratitude, in ceremony, through acts of practical reverence and land stewardship, in fierce defense of the places we love, in art, in science, in song, in gardens, in children, in ballots, in stories of renewal, in creative resistance, in how we spend our money and our precious lives, by refusing to be complicit with the forces of ecological destruction. Whatever our gift, we are called to give it and dance for the renewal of the world.



This article is syndicated from YES! magazine. YES! Magazine reframes the biggest problems of our time in terms of their solutions. Online and in print, we outline a path forward with in-depth analysis, tools for citizen engagement, and stories about real people working for a better world. Author Robin Wall Kimmerer is the founding director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.       


Missions for SPC Friday and the weekend of National Volunteer Week



Agents, our ninth and final mission
is to reflect, celebrate, and share
the journey and the outcomes of our
unprecedented, unified action!

“The spiritual foundation of this Call for Urgent, Unprecedented, and Unified Action is based in the understanding of the fundamental oneness and unity of all life… Since we are all part of the Sacred Circle of Life we are all Indigenous Peoples of our Mother Earth. This makes every Human Being responsible for the well-being of one another and for all living things upon our Mother Earth.”
-Hereditary Chief Phil Lane Jr.
Compassion Games Chairperson


Agents, what a journey we’ve been on these past 9 days together!
Mission#1: 
Loving seven generations, we walked in nature and were mindful of what impact our actions may have in a thousand years.


Mission #2:
We loved water by appreciating its precious value, and found ways to save as much as possible in our gratitude.



Mission #3:
Loving food, we cooked a meal for our loved ones and shared with them the nourishment of Mother Earth.


Mission #4:
By loving energy, we realized the power within ourselves and found ways to be more like plants by saving energy and transitioning to renewable energies.


Mission #5:
In loving wisdom we reclaimed our birthright of wholeness, and found ways to connect with others while reducing our waste.


Mission #6:
Through the love of Earth service, we committed ourselves to Serve the Earth...


Mission #7:
 ...and by loving community, we stepped into our roles as good stewards through compassionate action.


Mission #8:
And, through our love of this world - our Mother Earth - we celebrated the places we love that make us who we are.

Today, Agents, is a day of reflection, sharing, and celebration. You are part of a very important group of change agents in the world at this time, and we want to honor all that you’ve done and will continue to do to protect all life!

Reflect on the journey you’ve had over the last 9 days and the impact you had on yourself, others, and the planet. Share your experiences on the Compassion Report Map to store them in a type of time-capsule, and as a way to inspire countless other human relatives who are working toward the same healing of our planet that you are.
Life stirs within each of us.
It wants to thrive, heal, and grow.
And it is doing so through you.

Thank you for your commitment to our one and only planet, Agents.

Thank you!

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

National Volunteer Week 2017, 4/26/2017

Shine a light on why you volunteer.



Come to Harper during 3rd hour, Activities or the double to on-site service projects. 

1. Decorate hands to uplift teens from poverty,  Gabrielle and Mallory hope to reach 1,000 decorated hands ($1,900 donation) and mail them on April 27th to help uplift teens from poverty in Nicaragua and Indonesia.


On April 27th, 2017, in partnership with Global Nomads Group, Students Rebuild is hosting a live webcast between young people in Nicaragua and Miami. Mark your calendars and plan to join us on YouTube Live with your own questions for the young people participating.  Watch on YouTube Live at 9:00a.m. PT / Noon ET: https://youtu.be/OwsTWGrvZz4 Need a reminder for your calendar? RSVP for the webcast on Facebook.







2. Advocate for WATER IS LIFE decorating a rain barrel which will be donated to Centennial High School Community Garden. Sahanya brought this project from the National Service-Learning Conference, Dare to Dream to Casady Cyclones. Centennial High School has invited Cyclones to help build their garden on Friday, April 28, 2017.  Site supervisor and contact, Family Consumer Science and Technology Teacher:  Carrie Snyder-Renfro <carrierenfro@yahoo.com> 

3. Play the Earth Week Compassion Games, Mission 5 http://casadycompassiongames.blogspot.com/



Reflect On Yesterday's Mission

Before moving on to Mission #5, take a moment to reflect on yesterday's mission. What was it like to be mindful of how we use energy every day in ways that often go unnoticed? Were you surprised? Do you feel inspired to reduce your carbon footprint and implement green energies in your home? How might you help your community transition to clean, renewable energy that goes beyond coal and oil? Report and share your experiences on the Compassion Report Map!
Our fifth mission, Agents, is to live wisely by reducing our consumption and dramatically lightening our impact on planet Earth.

“Each of us in the U.S. is targeted with over 3,000 advertisements a day. We see more advertisements in one year than people 50 years ago saw in a lifetime. And if you think about it, what’s the point of an ad except to make us unhappy with what we have? So 3,000 times a day we are told our hair is wrong, our skin is wrong, our clothes are wrong, our furniture is wrong, our cars are wrong - we are wrong - but it can all be made right if we just go shopping.”
-Annie Leonard, The Story of Stuff

In the Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard explains how our material economy has come to be what it is today, and the disastrous consequences it has had on our environment and lives. Since about the 1950s, the national happiness of the United States has steadily been going down as rates of consumption and house size have been increasing. Could there be a connection here?
Today’s mission is really about going from being considered a consumer back to our natural birthrights as brilliant and whole human beings!
When we recognize that we are already whole, just the way we are, we don’t need the latest products to give us an external sense of worth. As a result, we buy less, have a lighter footprint on the planet, and focus on the things that truly make us happy... Things like friends and family, learning new skills, giving back to the world, and appreciating meaningful experiences.

Here are some ways to reduce our waste while increasing our connection with others:
  • Join a gifting community for free like “Buy Nothing”, NextDoor, or Freecycle to begin sharing things you no longer need with others instead of throwing them away!
  • Instead of buying something new, see if you can buy it used! Gifting communities are often great places to ask for something, and often times, you will be given what you need for free.
  • Start a community “tool library” where members contribute the tools they have so that together everyone has what they need. (It makes little sense for every house to have a shovel when you only need it once every 3 years!)
  • Recycle and compost whenever you can! Encourage your family and friends to do the same! Relabel your garbage can with a sign that says “landfill” as a reminder that nothing can really be thrown “away”.
  • If you don’t have a compost bin, start one! Or, if your community picks up yard waste make certain you use it for food and yard waste.
  • When you go to the grocery store, bring reusable bags to avoid one more plastic or paper bag from going home with you. (If everybody did this, think of how many bags would be saved!)
  • Use a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic water bottles that leach toxins into the water.
  • Recycle old electronics (“e-waste”) responsibly by giving them to e-waste facilities.
  • Transition from paper billing to online billing!
Invite your friends and family to join with you. And Agents, remember... As you fulfill your mission, share your experiences on the Compassion Report Map! Your report inspires others, amplifying the power of your compassion and generosity!

Going Deeper:

Mission #5 was inspired by "The Story of Stuff" with Annie Leonard, an amazingly insightful, fascinating, and accessible short-story for people of all ages.

Story Description: "From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever."



Each day during Earth Week, the Compassion Torch will be passed to a different Champion of Compassion. For Day 5 of the Earth Week, we are honored to pass the Compassion Torch from the Pachamama Alliance to the global mobilizer, Unify!


4. Transcribe the first pages of "50 years behind the fitting room door" to Pressbooks, a Village Library publishing program.  Help a Brookdale Statemen's Club resident publish a book about her OKC retail story.  Expected date for release, October 242017, author's 90th birthday.


Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Share a light on why you volunteer on National Volunteer Week 2017



Why 5 NFL Players volunteer in a mentoring program

On-site service projects at Harper


1. Miss Damaris Castro's 5th grade Spanish classes decorated 165 traced hands ($313.50 donation).  Mrs. Fowler's Kindergarten class decorated 66 hands ($125.40 donation), Mrs Thompson's Art class decorated 30 hands($57.00 donation), and the Casady after school program decorated 75 hands ($142.50 donation).  The Casady MD International Club and Gabrielle will take some traced hands to be decorated in Latin Class on 4/26/2017.  Stanley Hupfeld Academy at Western Village will decorate hands until 3:00 pm on 4/27/2017.


On April 27th, 2017, in partnership with Global Nomads Group, Students Rebuild is hosting a live webcast between young people in Nicaragua and Miami. Mark your calendars and plan to join us on YouTube Live with your own questions for the young people participating.  Watch on YouTube Live at 9:00a.m. PT / Noon ET: https://youtu.be/OwsTWGrvZz4 Need a reminder for your calendar? RSVP for the webcast on Facebook.

2. YAC facilitators of the Homeless Alliance Drive started to organize and count donations from last week's drive.
 

 

 




  





4.  Zain Malick and Hamzah Saddah are considering transcribing the first pages of "50 years behind the fitting room door" to Pressbooks, a Village Library publishing program.  The future 9th graders will help a Brookdale Statemen's Club resident publish a book about her OKC retail story.  Expected date for release, October 242017, author's 90th birthday.



4. Played the Earth Week Compassion Games, Mission 4.

Reflect On Yesterday's Mission

Before moving on to Mission #4, take a moment to reflect on yesterday's mission. How did yesterday's mission shift your ideas about food and your connection to the Earth? What was it like to offer food to another person with a compassionate intention? How might you bring more mindfulness toward food in your everyday life, and why might this be good for the planet? Report and share your experiences on the Compassion Report Map!
Our fourth mission, Agents, is to be like plants so we can minimize the impact of our energy use on the Earth.

“The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that manufactured them in their cores and exploded these enriched ingredients across our galaxy, billions of years ago. For this reason, we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. We are chemically connected to all molecules on Earth. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust.”
-Neil deGrasse Tyson

All energy comes from the stars. 

The cleverness and wisdom of plants allow them to absorb the energy of our nearest star, the Sun, turning this directly into food for them to grow. But animals, like us, depend upon these great plants so we can access the energy of the sun to live and grow as well.

When we look around us, we can see that the modern world is totally dependent upon massive amounts of energy to operate. Where does this energy come from? Our electronics, our lights, our heat, our cars, our entire way of life requires the energy of the sun to power them.

The unsustainable energy sources of coal, natural gas, and fossil fuel oil are simply very crude forms of sun-energy that have been left in the Earth and transformed into something more distant than the clean, direct energy of the sun. The great challenge of humanity now is to mimic the plant world and utilize the ever-flowing free, clean energy of the sun to power our lives.

Agents, our mission today is to consider all of the ways we can conserve energy, to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels while we transition to clean and renewable energy as quickly as possible.

Here are some places to get started and even save money in the process:
  • Eat local food! Local food uses very little carbon to get from the farm onto your plate! Food grown in other countries must travel thousands of miles to get to your plate.
  • When something is plugged in, it is still pulling energy from the outlet and ultimately wasting it. When you no longer need your phone charger or other electronics, unplug them from the wall to stop this flow.
  • If you are going to leave a room for more than 5 minutes, turn off the lights to save energy. During the day whenever possible, open the blinds and curtains to let free, natural light into the room instead! It’s better for your eyes, and will lift your spirit to boost.
  • Replace wasteful and outdated incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent, halogen or LED lights. These bulbs use just a fraction of the older light bulbs and put out just as much light. You’ll even save money in the long run to recover the costs of buying them, as an LED light can last between 10-17 years without burning out!
  • Hate traffic? Consider setting up a carpool with friends or coworkers who live nearby to dramatically cut down on energy consumption, alleviate traffic, and even use the carpool lane!
  • If carpooling isn’t possible, consider taking the bus. It may take a bit longer to get there, but the gained time of not having to drive can be an unexpected gift.
  • Walk and bike more! Not only are you saving energy, but you are getting the much needed movement your body craves!
  • Is it cold outside? Before cranking up the heat, consider this: the most efficient way to warm yourself up is by wearing warmer clothes!
  • Join a solar program or install solar on your house! Over time the cost of installation will be offset by the energy you produce all on your own.
Inspire your friends and family to join you on this mission! Challenge your household to save as much energy as possible as we transition to clean, renewable resources, together!
Agents, remember... As you fulfill your mission, share your experiences on the Compassion Report Map! Your report inspires others, amplifying the power of your compassion and generosity!



Each day during Earth Week, the Compassion Torch will be passed to a different Champion of Compassion. For Day 4 of the Earth Week, we are humbled to pass the Compassion Torch from the People's Climate March to the Pachamama Alliance!