Humanity Club Is Back: Every Student Matters

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The school year is underway, and Humanity Club is back at work helping students discover something that can change how they see themselves and treat others: Every one of us matters.

Through the Humanity Project’s Humanity Club, students explore self-worth, equality and respect for all. They take part in conversations, creative activities and games that bring these ideas into their everyday lives. And they learn to share those lessons with their classmates, becoming young leaders who can help make their schools more welcoming places. Sometimes that learning involves a serious discussion about bullying or feeling left out. Sometimes it involves laughter, imagination and a Halloween game about which monster understands respect. The activities vary, but the purpose remains consistent: Help children recognize their own value and the equal value of everyone around them.

Our approach to antibullying begins with emotional wellness. We want students to feel more secure in themselves and better able to respond thoughtfully to other people. That includes appreciating differences and understanding that no one deserves mistreatment because of who they are. LGBTQ students, like every student, deserve to feel safe, accepted and valued. The work also continues through our morning announcements, which invite students to pause for a minute of deep breathing and affirm, “I am somebody.” These simple daily practices reinforce the ideas we explore in Humanity Club, carrying them beyond our meetings and into the school day.

In a new short video, five Humanity Club students talk about their experiences so far this year. We’re pleased to share their voices and give our supporters a glimpse of the children at the heart of this work. We are deeply grateful to The Our Fund Foundation, FLoatarama and Community Foundation of Broward for helping make these programs possible. Their support allows us to keep putting our mission into practice where it matters: in children’s lives. As the Humanity Project approaches its 21st anniversary, we remain committed to helping young people build self-worth and respect from the inside out. We look forward to another school year of learning, creativity and connection — and to watching our Humanity Club members put those lessons into action.

Welcome, Sasha

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The Humanity Project welcomes Sasha Medvinsky as the newest member of our distinguished Board of Directors. Ms. Medvinsky is Nurse Manager for Outpatient Pediatric Ambulatory Services at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, she is a Registered Nurse with more than 30 years of experience. Sasha joined Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in 2004 as a pediatric nurse, earning promotions that led to a leadership role at that prestigious major medical facility. She and her daughter were early members of the Humanity Project Leadership Council, which was formed in 2016 as a parent/child advisory panel for the organization. www.jdch.com

If you’ve not yet looked over the Humanity Project Team Page, you may want to check it out. Our board and staff members make up a fine group of individuals dedicated to promoting self-worth as a fundamental human value, along with equality and respect-for-all as tools to help people acquire a greater sense of their own importance. Our acclaimed free programs and materials share our ideas in meaningful ways with both kids and adults. Welcome, Sasha — we know you’ll bring your experience and energy to assist our efforts.

PUBLIC NOTICE REGARDING THE HUMANITY PROJECT® NAME

The Humanity Project® has operated as a nonprofit organization since 2005, and our name is a federally registered trademark.

Two unrelated organizations are currently operating online using “The Humanity Project” name at thehumanityproject.net and thehumanityproject.world. Neither organization is affiliated with, authorized by or connected in any way with the Humanity Project®.

Our attorney has made repeated efforts to contact these organizations and has formally demanded that they discontinue their unauthorized use of our federally registered name. Those efforts have not resolved the matter.

For more than 20 years, we have worked to build the Humanity Project® name and reputation through our programs promoting self-worth, equality and respect for all. We have an obligation to protect that name and, just as importantly, to make certain that our supporters and the public are not confused about which organization they are supporting.

We hope both organizations will respect our federally registered trademark and discontinue using the Humanity Project name without the need for further legal action.

School's Out For Summer

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That sound? For the Humanity Project, it's the ring of the school bells after completing our student programs for the 2025-26 academic year. Now it’s time for a quick breather as we continue to work on our many other efforts — and prepare for the 2026-27 school year.

There was much to smile about over the past several months in schools. We reached several thousand students in several schools locally, instilling a deeper and stronger sense of self-worth along with a better understanding of equality and respect for every individual. School counselors, teachers and administrators all offered strong praise for our Humanity Club and Antibullying Through The Arts programs in their schools. One school director noted the “improved overall mood and sense of community in our school.” A counselor said our program fostered “a calm, comfortable and peaceful environment for students, teachers and staff alike.”

Students were just as enthusiastic. “The Humanity Project helped me remember that I am somebody!” wrote one young girl. Another student said in our post-program survey: “The Humanity Club program helped me believe in myself.” Yet another girl wrote: “It helped me know what are the meanings of respect and kindness.”

A big thank you to the schools, counselors and teachers that helped us deliver these programs to their students. Especially teacher (and Humanity Project board director) Piper Spencer. We also offer our sincere gratitude to The Our Fund Foundation, Community Foundation of Broward and FLoatarama for their essential funding in support of this work.

We look forward to the next school year. If you’d like to bring our free programs to your school, please get in touch with the Humanity Project. We wish all our kids, and all kids everywhere, a safe and happy and healthy summer of 2026.

Protecting the Humanity Project® Name

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Since 2005, the Humanity Project® has worked to build self-worth, equality and respect for every individual through programs in schools and communities. Over the years, our work has reached people across the United States and beyond. And in 2018 the Humanity Project® name became our federally registered trademark.

Recently, it has come to our attention that other organizations and individuals have begun using the name “Humanity Project” without authorization. We want to make it clear that the Humanity Project® is the only organization in the United States legally authorized to operate under that name in connection with our registered services and mission.

These unauthorized uses have created understandable confusion for supporters, schools and members of the public. Some individuals have mistakenly believed these outside groups were affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Humanity Project®. They are not.

To protect the integrity of our work, our mission and the trust that communities have placed in us over many years, we are actively addressing these matters through our intellectual property attorney and appropriate legal channels.

We remain fully committed to the work that has always defined the Humanity Project®: helping human beings recognize their value, strengthen self-worth and build a more respectful and compassionate world.

We thank everyone who has supported the Humanity Project® through the years and who continues to stand with us as we protect the integrity of our name and mission.

Foundational Strength

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The Humanity Project® is deeply grateful to the Our Fund Foundation and the Community Foundation of Broward for their continued belief in our work  -- and for their generous joint support for the coming school year.

Year after year, these two organizations have demonstrated a meaningful commitment to strengthening communities across South Florida. Their investment in initiatives that build self-worth, promote equality and foster respect aligns closely with the core mission of the Humanity Project. With their support, we are able to expand our Humanity Club programs in schools, reaching young people at a critical stage in their development—before patterns of self-doubt and conflict become more deeply rooted. This work is aimed especially at improving life for LGBTQ students, who are disproportionately bullied and harassed. Humanity Club allows the LGBTQ student population to feel seen, heard and appreciated.

At its heart, our work addresses a simple but profound challenge: many young people struggle to feel good about themselves. That struggle often lies beneath the surface of bullying, exclusion and internal conflict. By helping students build a sense of genuine self-worth, we aim to change that dynamic from the inside out. The partnership with Our Fund and the Community Foundation of Broward makes this effort not only possible but sustainable.

We extend our sincere thanks to David Jobin, President and CEO of the Our Fund Foundation, for his leadership and dedication to advancing equity and opportunity throughout the region. We are equally grateful to Jennifer O'Flannery Anderson, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Broward, whose longstanding commitment to strengthening Broward County continues to have a lasting impact on countless lives.

Their shared vision reflects something essential: that lasting change begins with how individuals see themselves and one another. Through this collaboration, we are able to bring that vision directly into classrooms and communities, helping students recognize their own value and, in turn, respect the value of others.

We are honored by this partnership and energized for the year ahead. Together, we continue the work of helping young people—and the communities around them—grow stronger, more connected and more fully human.

The impact on kids of "I Am Somebody"

The Humanity Project for many years now has used the famous civil rights mantra, "I am somebody," to reinforce self-worth for students. As part of our nationally acclaimed antibullying programs, we have introduced this group repetition along with deep breathing to entire schools as part of their daily announcements -- and it has had a very positive impact on their young psyches.

We hope you’ll watch this video: Here, veteran music teacher Lawrence Daniel addresses a 5th grade class at Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary School in Pembroke Pines, Florida... We first hear the school principal, Dr. Maraj, leading the daily affirmation over the school intercom. Then Mr. Daniel elaborates on "I am somebody" in a compelling way that shows what this simple message can do at a school.

We are trying hard to spread this daily practice and this important message to as many schools as possible. It’s only one part of our program, but we think it’s very valuable indeed. Most kids don’t hear that kind of encouragement often, if at all. Repeating these words daily in school eventually allows the idea of self-value to seep into their minds and influence their feelings about themselves — and others. As we frequently remind the students in our Humanity Club program, only those who feel like nobody treat others that way. If you feel like somebody special, you can more easily recognize the value in others. And behave toward them accordingly.

If your school anywhere in the world would like our guidance to implement exactly what we do, please contact us. It’s all free of course. And we are delighted to help you to help your kids.

Happiest Of Holidays

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Everyone at the Humanity Project wishes you a delightful holiday! Whether you’re alone or with friends or with family, this can be a season for joy. We hope you’ll find time to savor the lights and music, the colors and the smiles of kids. No matter what our situation, those are free gifts to any of us.

We know you’re busy, so we offer you only this very short blog today. Happy happy holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas! May 2026 be a good one for all of us!

Our Humanitarian Awards

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We are honored to honor these others, good friends and key supporters each.

The Humanity Project congratulates the five winners of our inaugural Humanitarian Awards.

They are: The Our Fund Foundation @our_fund_foundation ... Children's Services Council of Broward County @cscbroward ... Todd Delmay @todddelmay ... Deanne Gertner ... and the Hollywood LGBTQ Council @hollywoodlgbtqcouncil. You can find them at those Instagram addresses.

We are gratified to present the awards to these organizations and individuals who have offered very important support to the Humanity Project in various ways over the years. And we are deeply grateful to each of them.

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Catch The Big Bash

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We celebrated 20 years of humanity on November 1, 2025. It was a worldwide birthday bash to remember, with folks from as far away as Africa taking part. Now we’ve posted the video of our full 2-hour party on our Humanity Project YouTube Channel. We think you’ll find it fun, fast-paced and inspiring. As we write this blog, it’s exactly 20 years since our founding by Bob Knotts, our president: November 3, 2005 was the big day. Since then, the Humanity Project has helped tens of thousands of kids and adults through our original free programs, writings, music, videos and more. People from six continents visit our website every day to learn and to enjoy our offerings.

The birthday celebration posted on YouTube features lots of interaction with our guests, friends and supporters as well as videos, songs, giveaway prizes, awards and amusing memories. Here’s an Eventbrite map showing the locations of people who registered for our birthday party — and it doesn’t include the many who attended without registering:

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We’re delighted by the turnout and the reaction to our birthday bash. If you were among those who attended, thank you — and we hope you’ll want to relive some of those memorable moments captured on the video. If you weren’t there, definitely check it out on YouTube. In a time when our world too often feels troubling and challenging, our 20 Years of Humanity Birthday Bash serves as an antidote, full of caring and helping and hope.

Our 20th Birthday

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Happy Birthday… to us!

The Humanity Project turns exactly 20 years old on November 3, 2025. And we think this calls for a celebration!

We hope you’ll join us from anywhere in the world on November 1st for our big party: “20 Years of Humanity: The Humanity Project Birthday Bash!” It’s a two-hour online extravaganza that will feature lovely giveaway prizes, videos, interactive activities, awards and much more.

You’ll find us on that Saturday afternoon from 12 noon to 2 p.m. on both Zoom and YouTube Live. It’s totally free… and we won’t do a hard sell for donations. This ain’t a telethon! It’s a celebration of two decades working to help both kids and adults feel like worthy human beings and to inspire them to treat everyone else as equally worthy. You’ll have the chance to win two tickets to a Miami Heat game, two $175 Mastercard gift cards and a $100 Walmart gift card along the way as you enjoy this fast-moving virtual event. You can register at no cost if you want a chance at the prizes. Or you can simply show up and soak in the entertainment.

Save this link for Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81287749463

Or this link for YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbyRPF2Iy60

Of course, these links won’t be active until the event begins. But save them to use on November 1 — or simply register here.

You can chat with us on either platform but of course on Zoom we can see and hear you as well, allowing us to have conversations with you. But whichever way you join us, please just be sure to join us. It’ll be a birthday bash to long remember!

Staying Power

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The Humanity Project is here to stay.

We’re 20 years old now — and we’ve just completed two important steps to ensure that this organization is around for another 20 years and well beyond. First, we wrote and adopted a lengthy succession plan so that our work goes on without interruption no matter who’s in charge. Second, we’ve revised our Humanity Project bylaws to streamline and clarify board and staff positions as well as other key procedural matters. Together, these changes go a long way toward locking in our longterm viability.

Here is how our succession plan begins: “The Humanity Project (THP) was founded in 2005 by Bob Knotts, who remains president and sole creator of most THP programs and initiatives at this writing in 2025. This succession plan is imperative to smoothly handle Knotts’ departure, whether planned or unplanned, and to maintain for the long term all of the fundamental activities and goals of the organization he established. This succession plan’s objectives are centered on maintaining the strength, vitality and viability of the Humanity Project. Its goal is to ensure that the important work of this organization is larger than any one person – and that it will go on without interruption for years to come and to ensure that this work aligns with the stated mission and vision of THP as currently adopted by the Board of Directors.”

It’s important for us to stress that we expect our current leadership to be heading up Humanity Project efforts for many many years ahead. This succession plan simply is a wise safeguard that will be useful sometime in the future.

Our revised bylaws include this opening passage: “The Humanity Project is organized exclusively for educational purposes, more specifically to promote self-worth within every individual and respect for the value of all individuals and of humanity itself. As stated in the official vision statement: ‘To help create a world where every human being feels unshakable self-worth and profound respect for all humanity.’ This shall be accomplished through THP’s original programs and materials, both in person and online. The Humanity Project believes that a stronger, healthier society happens only through stronger, healthier individuals within that society. This organization offers original programs, blogs, stories, music, videos and more for children and adults, all aimed at promoting respect and equality as means to help realize THP’s vision.“

The bylaws continue by outlining titles and responsibilities of both staff and board members and spell out details of membership, meetings, committees and more.

We hope these latest efforts to build an even better Humanity Project may help further assure you, our supporters, that you can count on us for the future. If you’ll stay with us in the years ahead, we’ll stay with the job of helping to create a healthier and more respectful world.