A Better Beginning

View fullsize

The Humanity Project is expanding our acclaimed programs — again. This time we’re finding a new way to bring key portions of our Humanity Club and Antibullying Through The Arts programs to entire schools… for a full academic year. It’s simple, but effective. And the schools using our new approach are loving it so far, as are their kids. (Contact us if you’d like to bring this to your school, at no cost.)

We have created a brief routine for schoolwide morning announcements. A counselor or administrator or teacher takes the microphone and asks the children in each classroom to follow along: First a series of self-worth exercises in the form of repetitions using the words, “I am somebody.” This phrase was written as part of a poem in the early 1940s by Rev. William Holmes Borders, who used it to promote civil rights in Atlanta. It was later taken up by broader elements of the civil rights movement, famously by Jesse Jackson. Those three important words have been part of the opening moments of every Humanity Club meeting for many years now. Our Antibullying Through The Arts program incorporates them as well.

A portion of our Humanity Project morning announcements

Next the school’s morning announcer takes the students through a short deep breathing exercise, to help them focus and relax and prepare for the day ahead. This deep breathing also is borrowed from our Humanity Club and Antibullying Through The Arts sessions. We’ve seen the positive effects of both the deep breathing and the affirmations when done repeatedly over time. We are sure they will improve feelings of well-being and self-worth for many of the students who are introduced to these exercises in this 2025-26 school year… and so reduce bullying by encouraging kids to relax and feel good about themselves in school.

We’re grateful to the schools and educators helping us deliver these valuable lessons to our kids. We also must thank the Our Fund Foundation and the Community Foundation of Broward, whose funding has made it possible for us to implement this program expansion. Together, we form an effective team working to make a difference in the lives of as many kids as possible.

Humanity Project on AI

View fullsize

Like many of us, our folks at the Humanity Project are just starting to learn the value of AI. Artificial Intelligence has extraordinary potential to help all of us — and significant potential for the opposite, of course. It’s very new and none of us is really an expert. But we were pleased to look up “the Humanity Project” on ChapGPT recently ….and to find a glowing report on our organization. We’d like to share with you some of ChatGPT’s words about us.

This is one of the paragraphs we found today as we posted this blog: “The Humanity Project® is a well-established, creative, and compassionate non profit that empowers individuals—especially youth—to build a more respectful and supportive society through arts, education, and community engagement.”

And here’s another sample: “Known for popular and pioneering programs—like their arts-based anti-bullying curriculum—which have impacted hundreds of schools, especially in the U.S….There are similarly named initiatives globally—such as in Canada, New Zealand, or UK—but the Florida based Humanity Project® is distinct in its long running, values driven educational approach.”

And then there’s this: “In Summary - The Humanity Project is a Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to fostering self-worth, mutual respect, and equality through youth education, peer-led safety programs, anti-bullying initiatives, and cultural dialogue. With nearly two decades of consistent outreach, award-winning transparency, and community-based programs, it stands as a trusted, mission-driven organization.”

Thank you, ChatGPT for getting it right. We’re proud of our 20-year record of effort and achievement in the community. It’s always nice to know that others appreciate our work to promote self-worth, equality and respect for all people.

Our 20th Year

View fullsize

Yesterday, November 3 2024, the Humanity Project turned 19-years-old. And today, we begin our 20th year serving the community. We are proud of that. Let us give you a very abbreviated history as we look forward to expanding and celebrating in the consequential 12 months ahead:

• Incorporated in Florida on November 3, 2005.

• Began Humanity Project Podcast in March 2006.

• Won IRS federal tax exemption in September 2006.

• Organized and led the nation’s first mass children’s march against bullying: November 2008.

• Began Antibullying Through The Arts program in March 2009.

• Created original antibullying books given free to all teachers in schools that received our antibullying program: Summer 2010.

• Antibullying book and other program materials given free to schools nationwide after Time Magazine for Kids published an article celebrating the Humanity Project: October 2010.

• Created I Care program to teach respectful driving to teens and parents: February - June 2012.

• Created thp4kids.com website for LGBTQ teens and other youth seeking guidance and self-worth: October 2012 - May 2013.

• Created new materials for the I Care program, including a new component for parents: I Care: Just Help Them Drive: 2013-2016.

• Created Humanity Club as a live version of the thp4kids.com website, teaching middle school student leaders to create an atmosphere where all students feel valued and welcome: Fall 2015 - Spring 2016.

• Received federally registered trademark for the name, “The Humanity Project”: February 2018.

• Expanded Humanity Club to elementary schools: Fall 2018.

• Created “Humanity Gardens” at schools, libraries and parks: Spring 2019 - present.

• Revised mission statement and wrote new trademarked logo: “Equality for each, respect for all”: Summer 2019.

• Held “Goodstock,” an all-day fundraising concert with multiple bands and dancers on the 50th anniversary of Woodstock: August 2019.

• Organized and led virtual library meetings that brought together diverse segments of the community during the pandemic to seek mutual understanding: Fall 2020 - Spring 2021.

• Expanded Humanity Club to more schools: Fall 2022 - present.

• Organized and led effort to rename Oakwood Park as “Humanity Park”: Fall 2022 - Spring 2024.

• Won renaming of “Humanity Park” in collaboration with Hollywood LGBTQ Council: May 2024.

Humanity Project Board of Directors at Humanity Park

The list above is just a small fraction of our achievements in the past 19 years. During that time we have taught the value of self-worth, equality and respect-for-all to tens of thousands of students from grades K - 12. And even to some groups of college students. We have reduced traffic crashes and prevented injuries and perhaps even some deaths thanks to our unique I Care program, sponsored by State Farm. We have created numerous original and innovative videos, musical works, blogs, podcasts, fables and other writings, sharing them worldwide at no cost through our sponsor, Google. We have carried our uplifting ideas to local audiences through live talks and to more than 11,000 followers around the globe through our social media on Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads and Tumblr. And more, much more.

We hope you take pride in supporting the Humanity Project, an organization dedicated to spreading a positive message about the goodness and inherent value of every human being. And as we begin our 20th year, we thank you for that vital support, whether it comes through donations or volunteer work or simply by following us here and on the internet. We believe in you. We are grateful that you also believe in us.