More Social Than Ever

POSTED BY: BOB KNOTTS

Check it out! Look at our home page — yes, at the icons that have been added to our website. Those icons are new … and overdue. Because the Humanity Project has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to using social media to spread an uplifting message. Indeed, we’re proud to say that this organization has hosted our own Facebook and Twitter and YouTube pages far longer than many major national and international nonprofits.

In the past year or so, we’ve also added Tumblr and Instagram pages. And we’ve had a Humanity Project blog and podcast since our group first came before the public in 2006. (We were incorporated in 2005 but spent several months developing our original edgy website before announcing the birth of the Humanity Project.)

All this to say we’ve at last linked our website to our social media in a way that makes it easier for you to find us out there among the millions of other pages on Twitter and Facebook and the rest. Try them out for yourself, those new icons. They will transport you straight to our main social media pages. On those pages, you can interact with us quickly and simply. We’d love to hear from you, btw! Just click an icon and tell us what we can do for you … you’ll hear back from us very soon, we promise!

National Distracted Driver Awareness Month

POSTED BY: BOB KNOTTS

Several years ago, I was in a car accident. Only a fender bender, luckily — but I caused it and got a traffic ticket for following too closely. My mistake? I got distracted, probably for no more than 3 seconds as I drove beside the South Florida ocean and gazed toward something by the sea. Traffic in front of me had stopped abruptly, I had noticed too late. Boom. 

The older I get, the more aware I become of how distracted I often am inside a car. Not just by cellphones, which I tend to avoid behind the wheel whenever possible. No, I also find myself distracted by good music or by looking at the scenery as I did that day at the Atlantic Ocean. Or by drinking coffee in the car or by reaching for something I want or simply by a preoccupation with my thoughts and feelings. Or … the list goes on.

I’m working at stopping this behavior in no small part because the Humanity Project created our own program to combat distracted driving among teens. How can I be a hypocrite by not practicing what we preach at this organization? I shouldn’t. Though we tend to take driving far too casually in the United States, the reality is that it’s by far the most dangerous thing most of us will ever do. Each time we set foot in a car we also put at risk our property, our health and our very lives … as well as our freedom. Ask those serving time in jails and prisons for serious traffic infractions what I mean.

I’m writing about all this today for a good reason: Next month is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. It’s a good chance for drivers of any age to heed the wake-up call from the Humanity Project and the many other organizations working to stop folks from driving while paying attention to something else. Our great friends at State Farm are the main sponsor of the Humanity Project program I mentioned, which is called I Care: Just Let Me Drive. Like us, State Farm is spreading the word about the dangers of distracted driving through efforts that include their consistent support year in and year out for I Care.

We are very grateful for their funding, the money that makes it possible for us to continue expanding I Care — a program that reaches now into Florida teen traffic court and into high schools from Tallahassee to Jacksonville to Miami. And still growing, thanks in part to the help from our partners at Florida SADD and their dynamic state leader, Danielle Branciforte. During April, we’ll be reminding you about National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. For now, the Humanity Project just wanted to let you know about the important attention that will be devoted all next month to a very serious issue. As for me, well, you may be happy to hear that I’ll be trying even harder to stay focused whenever I’m on the roads. It’ll be a lot safer for all of us that way.

Our Anti-Bullying Hand Sign

POSTED BY: BOB KNOTTS

Have you seen it yet? The video? If not, you must … and then pass it along to a young child you love. We’re talking about our short video about the cool hand sign created by the Humanity Project as part of our Anti-bullying Through The Arts program. (We invented this hand sign in 2012 as one additional program element intended to help our elementary school children remember the main message we repeat during our in-school visits: “Bullying hurts everyone in this school … and it takes everyone to stop it!”

We now have this video posted on our Videos/Music page here on www.thehumanityproject.com as well as on our YouTube page at www.youtube.com/hpflorida. But we want to make sure you know about it so we’re posting it again in our blog. We offer the anti-bullying hand sign free, of course, like everything in all Humanity Project programs. Our great sponsors make that possible by providing the funding we need, day in and day out.  The only thing we ask is that when you share it, you let others know it comes from the Humanity Project. Thanks … Take a look and the video now, please.

More Than Skin Deep

POSTED BY: BOB KNOTTS

We have known Dr. David Sharaf for more than 15 years — and used his services exclusively during that time for our personal health care. A few years ago, this fine and respected physician also became a sponsor of the Humanity Project. And in February, he renewed that sponsorship again on behalf of the dermatology practice of which he’s a key part: Skin and Cancer Associates and the Center for Cosmetic Enhancement.

You’ll find links to Dr. Sharaf at their website: http://www.scacce.com. As always, everyone at the Humanity Project is very grateful to Dr. Sharaf and his colleagues. If you’re searching for a first-class dermatologist, and you live in South Florida, we urge you to consider looking into Dr. David Sharaf. We’ve found him to be caring, thorough and highly competent … as well as a very nice guy to boot. But we’re also impressed with his willingness to help our cause. We’ve come to learn that he is a man who truly does want to help people and is willing to back up that desire in a tangible way. His efforts help us financially as well as medically, keeping us healthy so that we can assist others through our innovative and much-needed programs. Thank you, Dr. David Sharaf. You’re both a good doctor and a good man.

Grownup Fitness and Fun ... to Help Kids

Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital

POSTED BY: BOB KNOTTS

It is an annual event in South Florida that seems to grow bigger every year. They call it the Tour de Broward, a day of five fitness activities offered by our good friends (and much appreciated sponsors) at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. JDCH hosts the Tour de Broward to raise money for its well-respected hospital. In 2014, the funds will benefit their Pediatric Cardiac Center.

That center is an important part of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. As they note on the Tour de Broward website, congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect in the United States. The money that comes in from Tour de Broward will buy high-tech equipment and also pay for emergency assistance for families. Presented by zMotion, the Tour de Broward is a fun day that involves 100K and 50K cycling, a 5K timed run, a 3K family walk and the Power of Play Kid Zone.

It all happens this Sunday, February 23, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Miramar Regional Park in Miramar, Florida, near Fort Lauderdale. For more information, just check out this link: http://tourdebroward.com. We are proud of our association with JDCH, which has now sponsored the Humanity Project for three consecutive years and counting. We look forward to many more years of close collaboration on Humanity Project programs such as our innovative I Care: Just Let Me Drive teen driver safety effort and our nationally acclaimed Anti-bullying Through The Arts program. If you’re in South Florida, we hope you’ll find the best way for you to help out during this year’s Tour de Broward. There are many options to explore at that Tour de Broward link above. The weather should be lovely, the people are sure to be upbeat and fun … and the cause is important. What better way to spend a Sunday?

Standing Up and Standing Together

POSTED BY: BOB KNOTTS

We are very pleased to announce some good news: the wonderful Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation has renewed their support for the Humanity Project’s acclaimed Anti-bullying Through The Arts program for a second consecutive year. We are proud and honored. If you’re not familiar with the foundation, we hope you’ll check out this link to their website: http://www.standupfoundation.com.

You’ll find information about their dedication to the anti-bullying cause. Ben Cohen is a World Cup champion in rugby, a tough sport if ever there was one. But Mr. Cohen lost his father to violence, a terrible incident where the senior Mr. Cohen stood up for an employee who was being attacked and died as a result. As you might imagine, this left a deep scar on the son. And a determination to do something to help those who stand up against violence, especially bullying.

The funding provided to the Humanity Project by the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation all goes toward our anti-bullying efforts, which to date have reached more than 15,000 children in South Florida and thousands more in various forms around the United States, from California to Massachusetts. Of course, we also have our amazing website for socially isolated youth, including many in the LGBT community: www.thp4kids.com. That site, by teens and for teens, has a major anti-bullying component. We’re just now redesigning the website to feel even edgier to our young visitors — and we’re adding a hotline through our new partnership with another respected national organization. Stay tuned for more on that soon. For now, we offer our sincere thanks to Ben Cohen and everyone at the StandUp Foundation. We think we make a terrific team.

Anti-Bullying Through the Arts

POSTED BY: BOB KNOTTS

The Humanity Project’s nationally acclaimed Anti-bullying Through The Arts program is special — we reach out and connect bystander students with bullying victims, helping the uninvolved kids to understand why their involvement is essential. As we always tell the elementary school kids who see our program, “Bullying hurts everyone in this school — and it takes everyone to stop it!”

We have a new video we hope you’ll watch, just 60 seconds long. In that single minute, our Gabriela Pinto tells you her thoughts about helping us present Anti-bullying Through The Arts to thousands of children. More than 15,000 young students so far and counting. We hope you’ll check out the video and pass along the link. And also let your local elementary school know about the Humanity Project’s terrific program, please.

Teens (and Others) Helping Teens

POSTED BY: BOB KNOTTS

It always is gratifying to see teens helping other teens, reaching out in ways that improve young lives. Or even save young lives. As 2014 begins, the Humanity Project is getting lots of help from our teen friends…because of invaluable funding from our great community partner, State Farm.

Yes, State Farm awarded us a new $10,000 grant in January to expand our terrific I Care: Just Let Me Drive teen driver safety program.That State Farm money already is bringing results, with assistance from teens themselves … and from adults too. These new efforts include:

• Barry University has five sociology students taking I Care into South Florida high schools.
• Florida SADD chapters are developing plans to use I Care in their programs – and already are getting our I Care books for free.
• A major Florida Teen Traffic Court now has 100 copies of our I Care book for case managers plus a PDF of the book in their case manager resource file. It’s one of only two such courts in the state.

Many other exciting initiatives are underway too – all thanks to State Farm … and our teen volunteers. For more information about State Farm, visit www.statefarm.com. And for more info on teens working to save the lives of their peers, stay tuned. We’ll keep you posted!

'No Bullying Around'

January 7, 2014: Our program at Lloyd Estates Elementary, Oakland Park, Florida

POSTED BY: BOB KNOTTS

Those are the words from the Humanity Project’s original rap song, the musical number that begins our acclaimed Anti-bullying Through The Arts program: “We want no bullying around!” the rappers sing out to our elementary school audiences.

Today I just wanted to let you know that our program is back in action, doing what it does best. Yep, on just the second day of the winter/spring semester your Humanity Project returned to the schools with our important lesson. We teach kids that, “Bullying hurts everyone in this school … and it takes everyone to stop it!” 

Our Board of Directors member, Gabriela Pinto, was joined by respected Florida actor, Lindsey Forgey, at Lloyd Estates Elementary School here in South Florida. With two presentations at the school this week, Anti-bullying Through The Arts now has reached more than 15,000 school children in South Florida alone, with elements of the program helping thousands of other kids from California to Vermont.

We are proud of the impact our efforts make — something we check with each anti-bullying presentation through pre/post testing carried out by the schools. Those test results show dramatic improvements by these youngsters in understanding basic anti-bullying concepts. We believe this knowledge will stick in their minds as they move into middle school, where bullying typically is the worst. If you’d like us to visit your school or want to learn more about our free anti-bullying materials, just go to the “Contact” page on this website and send us an email. Our program is powerful, memorable and fun. And most importantly, it works.

Socially Isolated Youth Get Cool Website

POSTED BY: BOB KNOTTS

There will be a new look for a new year, all aimed at offering insight and encouragement to socially isolated youth. Our www.thp4kids.com website will unveil a major kid-friendly facelift in a matter of weeks. We think it will attract more students to the site, based on early comments by teenagers themselves.

The changes are being drawn up by talented web design students at South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida under their teacher, Madeline Rosario. This is happening only several months after the site launched online.This website is the Humanity Project’s Internet home for kids who feel alone and lonely. It’s also a place for young people dealing with sexual identity issues or things like suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, cutting … whatever the problem may be.

Of course thp4kids stands for “The Humanity Project 4 Kids” and it already offers great content for youth from about ages 12-17-years-old, created by high school students for their peers. Blogs, videos, poetry, music, games, interactive content and more. All of it original, all of it with a sophisticated but age-appropriate approach intended to appeal to the young folks we want to help: smart, lonely, perhaps bullied, perhaps struggling with emotional conflicts. It teaches these youngsters that they’re not alone, that other students have dealt with similar troubles — and overcome them. Take a look for yourself by clicking on this link. Our website was created with a generous grant from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board, by the way. Stay tuned for the big announcement and the redesigned website! It is even edgier, bolder and more daring. We think kids will love it — and will feel more inclined to return to thp4kids often for the guidance they need.

From Us ... To You

A joyful, healthy, productive and constructive 2014 to everyone … from everyone at the Humanity Project!

An Invisible Butterfly?

POSTED BY: BOB KNOTTS

The Humanity Project is proud of our programs and other contributions to improve the world we live in. One of our unique offerings is a set of fables, eleven sophisticated but simple and brief stories for adults. Each  one deals with living life more fully by focusing not on “me” but rather on “us.” The latest fable was just posted and we wanted to share part of it with you here, hoping you will go to the link on this website to read the rest. It is called “The Tale of the Invisible Butterfly”:

How does it happen that a butterfly becomes invisible? Invisibility attends beauty more often than you may think, my friend, a cloak that often hides the unique beauties, the profound beauties of this world. True beauty noticed by no one. Yes, it happens around us every day – and not only to butterflies.

So you may find some small interest in this small story of one smallish yellow butterfly who outgrew her yellow smallishness. And as she turned beautiful, uniquely and profoundly beautiful, she instantly became invisible. (Read the rest of this story for yourself by clicking on the menu link above that says … “Fables.”)