Be a not-so-secret-activist

The other night I tuned into a great new show on ABC called “The Secret Millionaire.” I’m not normally one for reality TV, but this program held my attention.

The premise of the show is that self-made millionaires are sent to spend a week in the nation’s poorest areas and find the “Good Samaritans” in their communities. As you can imagine, these affluent business people get a jolt of reality as they reside in local housing on welfare-level wages.

Along the way they encounter selfless individuals who continually sacrifice everything to help anyone in need, and ultimately encourage others to do the same. Here’s the best part: at the end of the show they reveal their true identity and donate their own money to these local heroes.

While most of us are not millionaires, I think the show still has a relevant message for everyone who wants to make a difference. We can all do good deeds in our communities. That doesn’t cost a dime. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen. Offer to baby-sit for the single mother next door. Cook a meal for an elderly person. If you want to make your commitment public, you can post a comment right here on our blog. We would love to hear about the good deeds you’re doing; don’t keep it a secret!

Remember, any global change starts locally. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round…

Working in the Development office at CANI, it’s easy to feel removed from the daily goings on of the people we help. However, a recent experience allowed me to reconnect with what makes working at CANI so worthwhile.

Every year, CANI Head Start performs a self-assessment, as required by the federal government for grant funding. This process ensures we are providing quality early childhood education by meeting or exceeding system and service requirements. By using the Self-Assessment processes, Head Start sites can annually assess how specific aspects of their program’s operations impact services delivered to children and families. Self-Assessment is not an isolated event, but along with ongoing monitoring, is an integral part of a program’s planning cycle. The hope is that every year the program improves so that we can provide the best early childhood curriculum in the nation.

CANI Head Start calls for staff and community members to volunteer their time to help with this tedious but important process. I agreed to help and was assigned to ride the bus for pick-up and drop-off for Head Start students at the East Wayne Street Center. (Note: CANI Head Start no longer offers bus service. The East Wayne site operates separately from CANI Head Start but has an association with the agency.)

The bus ride was a great way to see how students interacted with one another, the bus monitor and the driver. They were all upbeat and excited about beginning or ending their day at Head Start. All were adorable in their own right. Some sang; some slept and some just took it all in.

These children, like most children, seemed as though they did not have a care in the world. They have loving families who want them to succeed. Their families may not have the same level of financial resources as others, but the amount of money you have does not affect the bond you have with family. At the end of the day - families are families.

Make no mistake, some of these children’s families are probably facing hardships that you or I may never face, but to see the children’s faces – you would never know.

So if you need a pick-me-up, I recommend you spend an hour or two with a bunch of pre-school-aged children. I guarantee you won’t take life nearly as seriously. C’mon…how can you keep a straight face when you are singing about monkeys?