I'm at a loss for words and have written many different stories for this but each didn't feel quite right. So I've taken this excerpt from Main Line Unitarian Church's Sunday sermon by Rev. Dr. Neal Jones tilted Cultivating Empathy.
"I’m getting older, and life is short. I don’t want to waste one minute of my life hating. I would rather channel the energy required to hate into positive action for change. Every single progressive movement in history has been built on a foundation of patient, persistent love.
Gandhi was right: Love always wins in the end and hate always loses.
The Baptist preachers of my youth were right: Hate the sin but love the sinner.
The Catholic monk, Thomas Merton, was right: If you love peace, then hate injustice, hate tyranny, hate greed – but hate these things in yourself, not in another.
And Dr. King was right: Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Listen to the sermon here.
We need to do more. We need to listen. We need to learn. We need empathy. This edition is dedicated to that.
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A huge thank you to our advertisers
for their continued support!
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Ways to Support Learning Remotely
When AIM Academy closed its doors in Conshohocken due to the COVID-19 crisis in March, it only took a weekend before 1st-12th graders were back in the classroom with their teachers – via computer.
Not only has AIM supported students with a full-schedule of live instruction with teachers and helped them continue to show gains in learning, the 380-student school has found ways to provide important remote learning opportunities to a growing group of learners throughout the entire country.
Academic Tutoring with AIM-trained teachers, Speech & Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy services are now all available online and in July, AIM’s Summer Enrichment Program (July 6 – July 31) will include students joining for live instruction each morning from the Jersey Shore and Illinois as well as the Philadelphia area.
AIM has found creative ways to help students learn, explore and discover while continuing our immersive learning and evidence-based curriculum focused on children with language-based learning differences. School looks a lot different, but AIM is still doing what they do best:
- Using arts-based projects to foster comprehension and connection
- Continuing Wilson Language Lessons and progress monitoring
- Offering a full class and extracurricular club schedule to support social interaction
- Finding unique ways to experience immersive learning “traveling” to an elephant sanctuary for a discussion about jobs in STEAM fields or talking to an author about his experience in Malawi and writing The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.”
- Encouraging active learning whether taking a bike safari, recreating a famous work of art or joining a live sonnet reading.
“I’m so pleased with how quickly AIM seemed to pivot to online learning and how wonderful the teachers/staff have handled this situation,” a Middle School parent wrote. “The constant emails of encouragement to the students and updates to parents are wonderful. Yet another reason that we are so happy with our decision to send [our son] to AIM."
Knowing that remote learning puts students who are struggling readers or have learning differences at a disadvantage, AIM has worked to share evidence-based literacy resources with schools around the world. AIM’s Summer Enrichment Online is open to any students who, given the switch to remote learning in schools this Spring, could benefit from academic recovery work over the summer to be ready for the next grade.
Learn more at aimpa.org/remotelearning
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Tajsha Gray-Vause, former President of the African American Student Union at Conestoga High School, and other AASU students have organized a peaceful protest march, The Main-Line For Black Lives, scheduled for today, June 4th, along Lancaster Ave. starting at the Wayne Train Station at 11AM and ending in Paoli.
The townships and the township police departments are aware and will be helping to facilitate a safe protest.
If you do not feel comfortable participating you can follow along in your car.
If you are under 18 please fill out a form on their website for consent.
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| AASU Rally hosted last year at Conestoga HS
We asked Tajsha what else can we do as a community? "You can “educate yourself about the issues, fight for them to include these kinds of lessons in our school districts, it all starts in the knowledge. My goal in this is to educate as many as I can, help people understand why the black community is so angry and hurt right now. It all starts with a conversation.”
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| When it comes to getting proper healthcare, it shouldn’t matter what your name is or how you sound. Your pain shouldn’t be underestimated because of biological myths that are not only scientifically false but also fantastical in nature.
Unconscious bias in medicine leads to poor health outcomes. It’s about time we work together to eliminate it.
empowherny.org
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| Campaign ZERO was developed with contributions from activists, protesters and researchers across the nation. This data-informed platform presents comprehensive solutions to end police violence in America. It integrates community demands and policy recommendations from research organizations.
More information.
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| BOOKS ABOUT RACISM
Experts suggest these titles
- White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo
- How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
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| Crime + Punishment chronicles the remarkable efforts and struggles of a group of black and Latino police and the young minorities they are pressured to arrest and summons in New York City.
A highly intimate and cinematic experience with unprecedented access, Crime + Punishment examines the United States' most powerful police department through the brave endeavors of a group of active duty officers and one unforgettable private investigator who risk their careers and safety to bring light to harmful policing practices which have plagued the precincts and streets of New York City for decades.
Watch on Hulu
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In Philadelphia, two people accused of the same crime face very different circumstances depending on their access to money. A person who cannot afford to pay bail will be detained in a city jail for an average of 100 days before appearing before a judge to have his/her case heard. Someone with the funds to afford bail will remain free over this same period of time. Before sentencing, both individuals are legally presumed innocent until proven guilty. The difference is that one has been locked up before trial because he/she is too poor to afford bail while the other has remained free.
This system strips people who are poor of their presumption of innocence and causes great economic and psychological harm to them and their families. Justice is being denied in this way to thousands of people every year in Philadelphia.
Research shows that just three days in jail makes people more likely to lose their jobs and housing, be separated from their families, and commit crimes in the future.
Inability to pay bail forces people to plead guilty to get out of jail, even if they are innocent and the evidence against them is weak. Defendants are nine times more likely to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge if they cannot pay bail.
People who are held on bail receive longer sentences than those who can afford to post bail for the same crimes.
In Philadelphia, more than 70% of the 5,198 inmates detained in the city’s jails as of May 31, 2018 have not been convicted; they are merely awaiting trial. The annual cost of detaining the jail population has, in previous years, amounted to roughly $126 million to the City of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Bail Fund
Philadelphia Community Bail Fund
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Malvern Prep is an independent Augustinian school for young men in grades 6 through 12, defined by the Augustinian values of Truth, Unity, and Love.
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Now more than ever, a Benchmark School education is critical for students who learn differently. Your child with ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning difference will become a confident, competent learner at Benchmark.
Our middle school Virtual Open House is for parents of rising 6th and 7th graders, and our lower school Virtual Open House is for parents of rising 1st-5th graders. Both events are at 6:30 p.m. Register today!
benchmarkschool.org/admission
admissions@benchmarkschool.org
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View a video message from Eleanor Godin, Board Member of Peter’s Place, on how YOU can make an impact at Peter’s Place today.
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Fred’s Footsteps, provides financial relief to families in the Philadelphia area caring for a seriously ill, injured, or disabled child. Parents who work in disproportionately impacted trades (like retail, home healthcare, or food service), especially those without PTO or sick days, are being especially impacted by COVD-19. For those with a seriously ill, injured, or disabled child this crisis is devastating. The Fred’s Footsteps COVID-19 fund was established to help these families with their most immediate needs by providing short term assistance for groceries and household items. The goal is to support 400 families with $200 gift cards each.
You can help – and honor someone important to you – by donating through the Essential Heroes Campaign. For every $10 donated, you can nominate an Essential Hero in your life by entering their name in the notes section on the donation page who will be entered to win a $300 AMEX gift card!
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Women's Resource Center serves five counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. Contact the Helpline to obtain local resources to assist with difficult circumstances.
Legal Consultations
Family law attorney consultations are a private 30-minute consultation with a Family Law Attorney to discuss issues involving divorce, custody, child support or other family law matters.
Legal consultations will be conducted by phone. You can register online here with a complete list of Legal Consultation locations and times. If you are unable to register online, please leave leave a voice message on the WRC Helpline at 701-314-HELP (4357) and someone will return your call as soon as possible.
Discounted Rates with Affiliate Attorneys
Confidential, professional assistance is available for women in need of help with family law issues through Women’s Resource Center Attorney Affiliate Program.
Call 701-314-HELP (4357) or email info@womensrc.org for more information.
Resource Coordination services are provided in 1-hour increments in person or over the phone, using a solutions-focused therapeutic approach. During these one-on-one sessions, the Resource Coordinator is able to help clients address the practical needs of employment and housing while simultaneously equipping the client with coping and resiliency skills. This therapeutic approach allows for WRC staff to gain a more holistic assessment of each client’s strengths and needs, identify issues of abuse, mental health, or substance abuse, determine appropriate referrals, and assist the client in developing and implementing a comprehensive action plan.
Resource Coordination is a unique blend of counseling and case management services that typically runs up to 12 sessions depending on the client’s needs. This service is free for very low income clients.
HELPLINE
M-F 9:30 am- 3:30 pm
701-314-HELP (4357)
womensresourcecenter.net
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PA 30 Day Fund has funded 70 businesses in Pennsylvania since May 7th; 36 of them are owned by people of color. Now, we're making $100,000 available to small businesses impacted by looting and property damage. Please share this with anyone you know needs help.
Details
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How to Be Brave, Not Perfect with Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, talks about her book, Brave, Not Perfect.
What I learned to do is work on silencing that voice in my head that told me I wasn’t smart, wasn’t good enough, and I didn’t belong.
~ Reshma Saujani
In this episode:
• The origin of perfectionism in women and what “brave, not perfect” means
• The importance of building the habit of being brave as a form of self-care
• Why you need to prioritize yourself without feeling guilty
• How Reshma learned to create equity herself as a woman of color
Listen here
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A special series...
Soulful Conversations on Community,
Racism and How to Heal Together
Join FemCity Founder Violette de Ayala and featured guests as they dive in and talk about racism, how we can start to heal together, how we can be better humans by listening more and being bigger advocates for those not viewed equally.
The entire series will be held this week on facebook.com/femcity.
Candice Thomas: Monday’s guest
Arnetta Yardborough: Tuesday
Marsha Terry: Wednesday
available for replay
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