Hey, you, I have your back.
It doesn't matter if you are a friend or a stranger, I have your back. It doesn't matter whoever you choose to love, I have your back. Whatever the color of your skin, I have your back. People with disabilities, I have your back. It doesn't matter where you were born, I have your back. I don't care about your religion (or lack of one), I have your back.
I stand here and promise you that I will fight for love, respect, empathy, diversity and equality. I will care for and protect this earth that we call home. Please, hold me up to these promises. I never thought of myself as powerful, but quoting Aaron Sorkin:
"We're not powerless and we're not voiceless".
So I'm drying my tears, holding my fears at bay, and getting to work. And it gives me solace to know that so many people are doing the same. Just to name a few: writer Deborah Underwood is giving away books to encourage donations, illustrator Meg Hunt is offering her support to marginalized artists, illustrator Aimee Sicuro is auctioning original paintings, and photographer Kersh Branz is donating her services to LGBTQ couples. With all this generosity in mind, I'm organizing a giveaway!
Giveaway: Art prints - Postcards - Linen Calendars
There are LOTS of prizes, and I'll draw one winner everyday while supplies last. So one person will get some postcards, another one a 2017 linen calendar, etc. Everybody is welcome to participate, but if you don't live in the US you'll have to pay for shipping (I'm sorry, mailing abroad is too expensive for me right now).
So this is how it works, do one (or all) of these things and leave a comment:
1. PROMOTE EMPATHY IN YOUR CLASSROOM
Teachers, you hold the future in your hands! I'm grateful for you, and I know how important (and hard) your job is... especially now. Thank you for keeping your students safe. Please leave a comment in the blog saying how are you promoting empathy, inclusion, and love in your classroom.
2. DO AN ACT OF KINDNESS
It's tempting to feel disheartened, but what we need right now is action. What are you doing to promote kindness in your community and the world? Leave a comment sharing what did you do to brighten someone's day or to keep someone out of harm's way.
3. DONATE TO CAUSES THAT NEED IT
Make a $20+ donation to pro-earth, pro-women, pro-immigrant or anti-bigotry organizations. If you donate $50+ your name will be in the hat two times, and if you donate $100+ your name will be in the hat three times. Did you already donate? No problem. Any donation after November 8th applies. Leave a comment below sharing which organization you chose. You can find a long list here, but these are some of my personal favorites:
- Planned Parenthood (consider also donating to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund)
- American Refugee Committee
- Environmental Defense Fund
- The Sierra Club
- The National Immigration Law Center
- Emily's List
- 826 National
Entering the giveaway is super easy: write a comment on the blog, sign up with your email address below, and check all the appropriate boxes. Don't worry, I won't keep or sell your email address (this is NOT a way for me to build my subscription list), but I need to contact you in case you win.
Good luck, and please share the love!
UPDATE December 2016:
The giveaway has ended. Thank you all for participating!
Congratulations to the twelve winners!! Maggie, Katrina, Mariel, Dave, Sylvia, Tina, Kate, Sherry, Lisa, Destinee, Lynnor and Esther, the prizes are on your way. You'll be getting them shortly.
He escrito este post con motivo de las elecciones en Estados Unidos. No es un mensaje político... es un mensaje social, porque mantenerse callado ante las injusticias y los valores del nuevo presidente no es una opción. No voy a traducirlo todo, pero esto es lo principal:
Prometo luchar por el amor, el respeto, la empatía, la diversidad y la igualdad. Prometo proteger y cuidar el planeta en el que vivimos. Espero que me ayudéis.