diversity

You Are Somebody

More than anything else, the Humanity Project stands for this value: self-worth. The belief that you and every other human being are important … and possess equal value to everyone else. You are somebody!

We teach this to kids through our Humanity Club and Antibullying Through The Arts programs, which we offer in schools, parks, libraries and any place we can connect with children. We then help those kids to reach their peers with the same message: You are somebody special … and so is everybody! Our approach includes lessons directly focused on self-worth and other lessons centered on the value of others, including videos, music, games, art projects and more about respect, diversity and equality. We find that the combination of these approaches works best: feelings of self-worth allow people to value others — and feelings of respect for others contribute to a sense of self-worth. One concept reinforces the others.

You might enjoy seeing two new videos created by our Humanity Club kids at two different schools. They express some of the lessons learned in our programs. The first is by the great kids at Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary under their teacher Piper Spencer: Watch the video, Respect Feels Good.

Then there’s this cool vid by the wonderful Humanity Club at Dania Elementary under Elysia Page and Claudia Fortoul: Watch the video, Raise The World.

We think you’ll enjoy both brief videos. And perhaps get some better sense of the values we teach at the Humanity Project. “Equality For Each, Respect For All!” And as the basis for it all, self-worth. That’s what the Humanity Project is really about.

A Foundation Of Goodness

Our Fund Foundation has grown into a national presence: Our Fund now is this country’s third largest LGBTQ foundation. This amazing organization under the leadership of the dynamic David Jobin supports, in their own words, “people who care, causes that matter.” The Humanity Project is proud that Our Fund is one of our longtime major sponsors.

Our partnership has become even stronger in recent days, with important generous new funding that allows the Humanity Project to expand our acclaimed antibullying programs with a focus on key human values — equality, diversity, respect-for-all, self-worth. This means we reach many more kids, influence many more lives through Our Fund’s vital support. And stop the bullying that disproportionately damages young LGBTQ students.

One of our many Humanity Project kids, delivering an important message

At a time when schools are under political assault, including Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, the Humanity Project knows it’s more important than ever to connect in meaningful ways with students about core values. Values that help prevent bullying, encourage common decency and teach the central significance of healthy relationships with others and with oneself. That’s what our Humanity Club and Antibullying Through The Arts programs do. We are lucky, very lucky, that the good folks at Our Fund understand this too.

Our Fund continues to progress as an organization, efforts that include their new strategic plan. Kudos not only to David Jobin, then, but also to wonderful people such as Obed Caballero, Mark Blaylock, Ted Vasquez, Wendy Flores-Bravo as well as Board Chair Scott Bennett and too many others to name. They are a great team. And together they make this community a much better place. Thank you, Our Fund Foundation, for helping the Humanity Project to do more and be more. We would not be the same without you. (Check out our new Humanity Project video: “Thank you, Our Fund!”)

One Child's Call For Respect and Peace

As the new school year begins, we already can see that our 2022-23 Humanity Club kids are very special. You may recall that our Humanity Club is a signature Humanity Project program, bringing together handpicked student leaders for intensive training about respect, equality, diversity and self-worth — lessons they share with their peers.

At Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary School, a young Humanity Club student has written a poem we thought you might like to see. Here it is, called “A World of Peace.” By Matthew Hines, 5th Grade.

If we showed respect to everyone in our schools

There would be no bullying problems

Of what we wear, and our hair, and our special abilities

Instead we greet others casually and treat them with respect

A school of peace, A world of peace

If we showed respect to everyone in our community

We will try to often have their back

If you see someone in distress don't sit back and watch

Try to help them move on with their day, don't leave them in a notch

A community of peace, a world of peace

If we showed worldwide respect

No terrorism or war

Talk it out with other leaders the correct thing to do

No violence or war is by any means necessary

Just do the right thing you know what to do

From the battlegrounds of Afghanistan

To the war in Ukraine

From the bombing of Pearl Harbor

From the terror of 9/11 Let there be peace

Because a world of peace is a beautiful world.

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We find it hopeful that some young minds feel such feelings and think such thoughts, offering us all a much-needed injection of optimism about the future. We’re proud that the Humanity Project’s “Humanity Club” program is helping to shape and encourage children such as Matthew, who in turn teach their important lessons to fellow students. “Equality For Each, Respect For All” … that’s the Humanity Project.

Evolution, Not Revolution

The logo for the Humanity Project’s PeacePage

At the Humanity Project, we believe every nonprofit organization needs to grow, change, expand. Just as all living things must change in order to adapt to new conditions … and to achieve their fullest usefulness. The Humanity Project is about to go through such a change.

This blog, then, is intended to give our friends and supporters some advance word about these very exciting changes. And to reassure everyone that our next phase of growth will be part of the Humanity Project’s evolution, not a revolution where everything goes and change is radical. Not at all. We plan to keep pushing ahead with our acclaimed existing programs such as Antibullying Through the Arts, I Care and Humanity Club.

But in the coming weeks this fall you’ll find us with a new mission statement as well as a new slogan. And soon some new programs that will carry us beyond the boundaries of working exclusively with kids to include parental and adult groups that we believe can benefit from our work. (Actually we’re already doing this as part of our I Care program, a change that came as research increasingly showed that parents were the real problem on our roads much more than the teen drivers themselves. So we created a State-Farm sponsored website just for parents of teen drivers: www.thp4parents.com — “The Humanity Project 4 Parents.”)

As you will soon see, though, we believe our mission now is ready to expand beyond even this effort. For example, we hope to work toward building coalitions within our community and to create dialogue among groups that too often misunderstand each other. This can benefit the LGBTQ population, promote gender and racial equality and more.

In the end, the Humanity Project represents an important idea: that every human being is unique but equally valuable and that all individuals should be treated with greater respect. Back in 2010 we created our PeacePage with this notion already in mind, a photo gallery collected from all seven continents to demonstrate something of the humanity we all share. Visit our PeacePage. During our Board of Directors retreat just a few weeks ago, the Humanity Project decided this basic concept can guide our evolution as we move into our 15th year of existence. Positive growth, meaningful and practical development — evolution, not revolution. That’s what we have in mind. We’re sure you’ll like what you see as we unveil the new improved Humanity Project, with a focus on instilling greater respect for the goodness and inherent value of the humanity we all share.

Goodstock Rocked The House

Dear Kate with Silver Nightingale at Goodstock

If it had happened 50 years ago, we’d have used different words to describe our recent big Humanity Project music fest and fundraiser. Words such as “groovy” and “far out” would have flowed in the wake of Goodstock. But Goodstock happened in August 2019, not August 1969. So instead we’ll simply call our all-day music extravaganza “awesome.”

Goodstock also was inspiring, an appropriate tribute to Woodstock on the exact 50th anniversary of that remarkable hippie happening in upstate New York.

During our Goodstock festival at Kelly Brothers in Fort Lauderdale, everyone seemed to feel an uplifting vibe right from the opening act at 2 p.m., a blues band called Hat & Matching Suitcase, until the final performers wrapped things up about eight hours later, a classic rock group called Fifth Wheel Trio. In between we were treated to fine performances of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, folk — even a rendition on electrified flute of The Star-Spangled Banner, with distortions reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix.

We can’t adequately describe what happened. But if you watch the short video clip below and glance through some of the many photos, you’ll get a small taste. Goodstock was awesome indeed … and very far out!

On August 18, 2019, 50 years to the day after Woodstock, the Humanity Project held "Goodstock"... an all-day music festival as a fundraiser for our programs. Eleven great bands performed from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. with nearly nonstop music of all kinds: blues, rock, hip-hop, jazz, folk and more.

The Humanity Project’s own Laura and David, our main Goodstock organizers, Great job!

The Humanity Project’s own Laura and David, our main Goodstock organizers, Great job!

Three of our favorite people taking Goodstock tickets

Wonderful news media coverage of Goodstock

Our founder telling the crowd more about the Humanity Project’s important mission

Swampcats were among the acts that really rocked the house at Kelly Brothers in Fort Lauderdale


Goodstock Is Groovy

Goodstock is gonna be very groovy, dude! Far out!

At the Humanity Project we are reliving the era of peace, love and music that came to its peak during Woodstock. That three-day music festival drew some 400,000 people without an incident of violence, despite no police working the venue.

On the exact 50th anniversary of that amazing event, the Humanity Project is holding a major fundraiser we’re calling “Goodstock.” Heh-heh, get it? If you’re in South Florida, mark your calendar for August 18th. An all-day ticket costs only $24 in advance, the same price as a three-day ticket to Woodstock in August 1969. At the door, festivalgoers will pay $30. All proceeds to benefit the Humanity Project. Buy your advance tickets safely through Eventbrite at this link.

Kelly Brothers Irish Pub in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is donating the venue for free, a popular spot for live music each week. Other major sponsors include State Farm, Our Fund, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, Thompson Staffing and Yachtees Apparel Company.

Just take a look below at the lineup, a mix of jazz, hip-hop, blues, folk and more — diverse music in the spirit of Woodstock itself. Please come join the fun. Feel the peace, sway to the music … and help a very good cause doing it.

Kids Speak For Themselves

A very brief blog to suggest you spend just two minutes doing something else — watching our new video. It shows young girls offering their honest, unscripted, unprompted opinions of our Humanity Club after being in that Humanity Project program for one full year. Check it out! It’s sure to make you smile … and show you more of what the Humanity Project really does.

This video offers honest and unrehearsed comments from kids who were part of our year-long 2018 to 2019 Humanity Club for all-girl student leaders. We conducted the program at the wonderful Morrow Elementary School in North Lauderdale, Florida, with hand-picked leaders to promote gender equality and spread the concept of respect throughout the school.

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A Great Partner: Our Fund

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It’s no secret. Money is the lifeblood of any nonprofit. We wish it weren’t so — but it is. Without money, the Humanity Project can’t work with kids, parents and other adults to inspire respect for the equal value of individuals and the unique value of humanity. We can’t provide our acclaimed antibullying program or our innovative Humanity Club. Our Fund understands this — and recently awarded the Humanity Project and 20 other fine nonprofits generous funding to continue our work.

We are deeply grateful to everyone at Our Fund, including the Board of Directors, the Grant Committee, and the great staff that includes Mark Blaylock and Obed Caballero. But we especially must thank Our Fund’s amazing CEO, David Jobin, who is an admired friend among the South Florida LGBTQ community and beyond. David works tirelessly to make this the most livable place in the United States for the LGBTQ population … and thereby, more enjoyable, more diverse and yes more livable for everyone. Our Fund is the third largest LGBTQ foundation in the country and we thank them for this important recent $10,000 in funding for the Humanity Project’s work.

So let us finish up this online acknowledgement and thank you by showing you something we believe you’ll like. This is a new 2-minute video we recently uploaded to the Humanity Project YouTube channel. It shows unscripted honest thoughts about our Humanity Club by a few of the girls who took part in the program at Morrow Elementary School in North Lauderdale, Florida from September 2018 through June 2019. These girls are future leaders who learned through the Humanity Club about the importance of respect for every human being, regardless of who that person loves, how they dress or anything else. They in turn helped their entire school understand these same lessons … and now will take their knowledge with them to spread among their peers in future years. This is how a community achieves equality. It should make you smile. And should make you appreciate the support of Our Fund all the more. That’s certainly our reaction here at the Humanity Project.

Thank you, Our Fund!! Here’s that video: Watch the new Humanity Project YouTube video!

Goodstock

You know about Woodstock, of course. Let us introduce you to Goodstock!

Exactly 50 years after the original three-day celebration of peace, love and music in the New York State countryside, the Humanity Project will hold our own festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It’s also a celebration of peace, love, music — and respect for every human being as well as humanity itself. We’re calling it, “Goodstock.” Or to be precise, “The Humanity Project Presents Goodstock.” The event begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 18, serving as an important fundraiser for our acclaimed free programs. If you’ll be in South Florida then, or can make your way here, please join us!

We’ve already got many bands lined up, offering a diverse assortment of musical styles. With more acts coming on board all the time. The cost will be $24 in advance, which is the same price charged for a three-day ticket to the original Woodstock festival in August 1969. We’ll be setting up a page on Eventbrite soon for you to grab your Goodstock tickets. At the door, guests will pay $30. But whether you buy in advance or day-of, you’ll also get a free drink at the delightful Kelly Brothers Irish Pub, which hosts live music regularly on their stage. They are putting on Goodstock at no charge … and we’re deeply appreciative. (Visit the Kelly Brothers website.) Plus, you’ll be able to buy a t-shirt with our cool Goodstock logo, which you see above.

We anticipate a big turnout, with lots of excellent music and warm relaxed fellowship. As one of our Humanity Project organizers for Goodstock wrote in a social media post, “This is going to be epic!” Thanks, David (and Laura, who sits on our Board of Directors). We’re pretty sure you’re right.

Or maybe we should just say, “Right on!”

You Are Stardust

Hubble telescope image courtesy of NASA

How do you teach a young child concepts such as the importance of respect for every individual, the value of diversity and the need for self-worth? Ideas that even many adults couldn’t explain clearly …

At the Humanity Project, we teach through play: videos, music, games, roleplaying and more. Art inspires the emotion that helps concepts to stick in the mind. One of our arts-based ideas for teaching also is science-based. We show kids that among the many reasons each person deserves respect is this amazing fact: Most of the materials inside every human being are formed from stardust. Literally. Science knows that elements such as carbon, oxygen, iron and nearly everything else that makes up you and all of us can only be manufactured by the extreme temperatures created within stars.

That’s an extraordinary notion to learn — for kids and adults both. And so we suggest you check out our latest video, just posted on the Humanity Project YouTube channel. It is called simply, “You Are Stardust.” Watch the video!

It’s short, it’s engaging, it’s factual … and offers us one more way to connect with kids. It was made with help from our Humanity Club girls at Morrow Elementary, many of them appearing in the video. And now they will help us bring the video and a short talk about this topic to every student in their school, classroom by classroom. The goal is to encourage the entire student body to treat everyone in school with respect, part of our year-long Humanity Club project at Morrow. Kids teaching kids, kids helping kids … That’s what we do at the Humanity Project.

Imagine ...

Imagine… Imagine a diverse group of adults, all working toward the same goal of helping kids — entirely without pay of any kind. Imagine that these folks actually all get along, genuinely enjoy each other’s company, consider themselves an extended family. And imagine that they really do make a demonstrable difference in the life of thousands of children (and parents too) each year.

Welcome to the Humanity Project!

We think you can tell an awful lot about any organization by getting to know the people who do the work. So in this post, we’re offering some photos to show you a bit more of our team. These pics were taken at the mid-December Humanity Project Holiday Party, which we held for free at Insight for the Blind. (Our Board of Directors VP is Matt Corey, who is CEO of Insight for the Blind. Matt kindly offered his lovely offices for our party.) Take a look for yourself. You’ll get a better idea who we are at the Humanity Project. And don’t miss the below link to our video, which shows some of us singing our version of John Lennon’s “Imagine.”

Imagine that …

The Hunanity Project sings "Imagine"

Some Humanity Project Board of Directors and Leadership Council members (& friends) sing “Imagine.”

Welcoming The World

Screen capture: Humanity Project website visitors

Just take a good look at that photo above -- it's a screen capture from December 19, 2017, two days ago as we post this blog. Or glance through a similar photo below, snapped only moments ago. These are representative pics that show us something new: We now know that people from all over the world regularly and frequently visit our Humanity Project website. 

Wow, how cool is that?! India, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, China, even Syria among many other countries whose citizens visit us. 

Yes, we've long understood that our reach is broad. Of course we connect with many folks in our own area here in South Florida and all over this state as well as around the United States and Canada. We also have heard from lots of people over the years from a variety of nations around the globe. But until now, we didn't know how many other people from Asia and Europe, from South America and Oceania/Australia and Africa use this Humanity Project website. A new analytics app from our friends at Squarespace, which hosts our site, shows that humans spread throughout the planet watch our videos, read our fables and blogs and other free writings. They listen to our music and check out our podcasts. They learn from our programs. The videos and fables especially are popular. 

 

This is exciting news to us. We've always envisioned the Humanity Project as an organization that could enable a broad range of people to help themselves through helping others. Our kids do this by helping other kids. Our Board of Directors, Leadership Council, members, donors, volunteers, supporters, social media followers -- all gain in some way or other through applying the shared value philosophy created by Humanity Project Founder, Bob Knotts. It's an empirically based concept grounded in solid psychology, the main idea being that individuals feel better about themselves by treating everyone else with unconditional respect. You can read more about shared value at this link: Read the Shared Value essay. 

But until now, we didn't know for sure that so many diverse populations derive so much inspiration and information from our free website. 

This is all we can say to each of you who read this, to everyone who visits and gains anything of value from the Humanity Project. Thank you! Thank you so much ... and welcome! We're so glad you're here. 

This website and all materials on it are copyrighted by the Humanity Project®.

(Fables and some music are copyrighted by the author, Robert Spencer Knotts.)

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