The Humanity Project Store!

A screen capture of our new online store, which links with the “Store” page on this website

For at least the past ten years of our 13-year existence, the Humanity Project has wanted to run an online store. Until now, it wasn’t possible.

But today it’s not only possible, it’s a reality. The new Humanity Project Store, hosted by our partners at Cafe Press, offers a wide range of inspiring gift items with unique Humanity Project artwork on the front. You’ll find t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, bumper stickers, keychains, holiday ornaments, caps, even flip-flops. Click this link to go directly to the online Humanity Project Store!

A sizeable portion of every sale goes directly to our programs for children and parents. So you’re not only buying gifts that celebrate your values, you’re helping us to help many more kids and adults at the same time.

Cafe Press is known for its high-quality merchandise, great customer service, no-questions return policy and safe online purchasing. Once in our store, just click on an image to look through the broad variety of Humanity Project gift items. We are excited to add this new feature for our many Humanity Project supporters, sponsors, donors, friends and followers — and we think you’ll be impressed with the selections and one-of-a-kind designs. Please explore, shop and share the link with friends and family. We really appreciate it!

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.”

New Members Of Our Team

Welcome to the Humanity Project, Sasha Medvinsky and Victoria!

Meet our newest Leadership Council parent-child team.

Sasha was born and raised in Ukraine, leaving for Florida in 1992. She’s a registered nurse who manages Outpatient Services in the Pediatric Ambulatory Department of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Her daughter, Victoria, is an honor roll student and a recognized leader in her school, often fundraising for causes that help children in need.

Of course, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is a longtime sponsor of the Humanity Project. So we think Sasha’s involvement with the Humanity Project seems especially appropriate.

Our Leadership Council was formed several years ago to serve as an in-house consulting and creative group of parents who partner with their child, collectively offering guidance to make sure our programs become even more kid-friendly and parent-friendly too. Since then we’ve added key new members to that team. We know Sasha and Victoria will bring their experience and talents to our work now — and we’re grateful.

We think of the Humanity Project as a family: not only our Board of Directors and Leadership Council but also our great volunteers and the many students and teachers and administrators who work with us closely. Together, we help kids to help kids. Together, we really do make a difference.

To Get Respect, Give Respect

The Humanity Club at Morrow Elementary

The Humanity Project believes that for people to get respect, they first must give respect. Always, in every situation, unconditionally. That doesn’t mean being weak. It means treating every human being as just that: a human being.

We teach this to our kids as well as to parents busy raising their own children. And it applies in the schools, online, on the roads. Everywhere.

During the Humanity Club presentation on respect: a Native American tale

On November 16, our Humanity Club at Morrow Elementary School in North Lauderdale, Florida demonstrated for nearly 400 of their classmates, grades K - 5, what respect really means. It was a huge success! Through interactive exercises, skits, music, videos and more, our amazing group of 10 Humanity Club all-girl student leaders marked the path toward a more respectful learning environment. Their classmates were receptive and now many of them will take part in ongoing art projects and contests focused on respect — even a Garden of Respect that the Humanity Project will build for the school with students closely involved in both planning and execution. That garden will be funded in part by a new grant from Children’s Services Council of Broward County and we’ll tell you more about it next month.

During Text-4-RESPECT

That same day, the Humanity Project also led a Text-4-RESPECT campaign, with students at Morrow and other schools as well as nonprofit partners texting #respect at noon local time. This was intended as a follow up to the morning Humanity Club program … and as a tribute to the great Aretha Franklin, who passed away in August. In Detroit, Ms. Franklin’s church where she began singing (and her father was longtime preacher) even joined the event. As did nonprofits and individuals from as far away as Brazil, Italy, Switzerland, New Jersey and many other spots.

All this took place on the 10th anniversary of the day when the Humanity Project led the Thousand Youth March for Humanity: November 16, 2008. That was the nation’s first mass children’s march against bullying with more than 2,100 participants. And it’s the reason the week of November 16 each year is antibullying week in Broward County Public Schools, the sixth largest school district in the United States.

Yes, we do believe that to get respect, we must each give respect. It’s encouraging that so many of our young students agree, don’t you think?

Humanity Club: Respect ... & Fun

Take a look through these pics, snapped just yesterday as we write this blog. They will tell you all you need to know about our Humanity Club at Morrow Elementary School in North Lauderdale, Florida.

Well, not ALL you need to know. But a lot anyway.

You can see in them our great student leaders, having lots of laughs as they learn how to teach lessons of respect to the entire Morrow student population. Through these girls, the Humanity Project promotes respect for all, the value of diversity, the importance of self-worth … as well as gender equality. Girls in leadership roles. Our program is effective, engaging and downright fun. See for yourself — just check out more photos below. Thanks!


Wow! New Website 4 Parents Of Teen Drivers!

Please don’t spend a lot of time reading this blog, OK? We’re going to keep it very brief …

Why? So instead you can spend some time exploring our brand new resource: “The Humanity Project 4 Parents.” It’s a fun, funny and educational website for parents of teen drivers, an interactive online workshop that teaches rather than preaches. You’ll see what we mean if you check it out: Visit the new thp4parents website!

An alternative SF logo THUMBNAIL -- new Jan 2015.jpg

The site was made possible by generous funding from our great friends, and very good neighbors, at State Farm. At www.thp4parents.com you’ll find the information and tools to help you make sure your teen driver comes home in one piece — and you do too. It’s all about #respectontheroads … So yes, head over to the new site now, if you would be so kind. And please pass along the link to some parents who can use it.

Something Special On TV (and in a podcast too)

The Humanity Project has been featured many times on television, radio and online. Our latest offerings come to you by way of a 15-minute television segment with Humanity Project Founder Bob Knotts, hosted by Miami broadcast personality, Tamara G.

You’ll hear discussions about our programs, especially our antibullying efforts. And some thoughts about the bullying so prevalent in today’s society. Click here to watch the program on Facebook.

We also have posted a new podcast, A Special Day Of Helping. It’s a discussion mainly focused on the annual national holiday called Good Neighbor Day, started in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter. Our guest is Jose Soto, a wonderful friend of the community and a top State Farm official in Florida. Jose also is a close friend of the Humanity Project and a frequent guest on our popular podcast. Click here to listen to the podcast on this website.

We think you’ll enjoy both shows. And we hope you’ll pass along the links to your friends and family. As always, we appreciate you letting others know about our free programs and materials. Thank you!

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UNICEF Report: School Bullying Is Rampant Worldwide

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Bullying is worse, not better. But there is hope. 

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, just released a major report on childhood bullying worldwide. It found that about half of children ages 13 to 15 throughout the globe say they have experienced peer-to-peer violence in and around school. That's 150 million kids. As one UNICEF official who contributed to the report said, "Schools are not as safe as they should be because of bullying, because of corporal punishment by teachers, because of attacks on schools." The report adds that the estimated monetary cost of violence against children in all countries is $7 trillion.

However, the same UNICEF official noted that more children are speaking out against bullying and more teachers are being trained to deal with it. "We have reasons to be optimistic that violence will be recognized as a problem in schools and addressed soon," she said. Self-reported peer violence stands at around 50% in most of the nations studied -- with the U.S. rate slightly lower at 48%. The report is based on data from 122 countries, which are home to 51% of the world's population of children ages 13 to 15.

At the Humanity Project, we see this major report as more proof of the need for increased efforts of all kinds to stop school bullying. We have sensed a growing misunderstanding of the issue in the United States in recent months, a feeling that the serious problem of school bullying is less common now than before. Some folks seem to feel we've won that war. In fact, school bullying is more common today, according to U.S.-based studies and anecdotal reports. These include recent discussions by Humanity Project officials with school administrators, teachers and counselors. LGBTQ students are among the most frequent targets, a school population that is disproportionately bullied. The Southern Poverty Law Center says research consistently shows that “virtually every LGBT student experiences bullying at school.”

The Humanity Project's acclaimed Antibullying Through The Arts and Humanity Club programs have been shown to be effective in helping to curb school bullying -- but in the past several months, we have received somewhat less funding than in 2017 to deliver these free programs to schools and organizations that need them. In light of the new UNICEF report, we are hopeful these funds will be restored soon as more people recognize that bullying hasn't ended in the schools. And that our work as a society to stop school bullying is far, far from over. 

Did You Know ... (Some surprising facts about us)

We are very proud of our organization. The Humanity Project helps kids to help kids (and sometimes parents) through our innovative programs that teach respect in many areas of daily life, including at school, at home and on the road. But did you know these cool facts about the Humanity Project?

  • We are almost 13-years-old! (November is our birthday.)
  • Our Board of Directors and Leadership Council both boast folks with some impressive experience! (See for yourself by opening the "Meet The Team" tab on our website menu.)
  • We created, organized and led the nation's first mass children's march against bullying! (Yep, November 2008. Here's a link to a video that shows the amazing event: Watch the video!)
  • We have nine active social media pages, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube!
  • In addition to our main website, we also operate two more websites, with a third on the way! (www.thehumanityproject.com/icare ... www.thp4kids.com ... and soon a website just for parents of teen drivers.)
  • Our thp4kids site includes a 24-hour professionally staffed hotline in partnership with organizations such as Covenant House and Boys Town!
  • Our sponsors are loyal year after year and include many significant organizations from the business and nonprofit worlds, including State Farm, Google, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, Our Fund, Children's Services Council of Broward County and many others! 
  • We have a PeacePage on our website with contributions from nonprofits and individuals on every continent, including Antarctica! It beautifully conveys real aspects of our common humanity: Visit the PeacePage.
  • We teach the importance of respect, diversity and self-worth through arts-based programs, each with all-original materials including music, videos, roleplaying, games and other engaging elements!

There's much more to know about the Humanity Project. But we thought these tidbits might be of interest for now. We encourage you to explore our websites and social media -- and to learn more about our free programs. And please consider joining our efforts to make this world a more respectful place. 

Welcoming Our Latest Sponsor

Today we officially welcome our new sponsor, Bennett Intellectual Property. The community-minded owner is attorney Allen F. Bennett and, as you might assume, his specialty is intellectual property law. We are very glad Allen has joined our growing family of impressive sponsors.

Allen is the reason that the Humanity Project is now the Humanity Project® ... That small R in the center of a circle actually is a very big deal. It means that our name is formally protected under U.S. trademark law -- and no one can use it without our permission. We are THE Humanity Project from now on. Allen Bennett handled this important legal case for us pro bono and so joined the Humanity Project family. 

We surely can recommend Allen's work. He was efficient and effective as our representative as well as unfailingly pleasant in all our interactions. He got the job done right and got it done as quickly as possible. What more can you ask of a lawyer? So yes, we welcome Allen F. Bennett, Attorney at Law, to the Humanity Project® , We are proud to have him on our side. 

Back To School!

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Just look at those happy kids! Wouldn't it be lovely if all children could feel this way? At the Humanity Project, helping children to live healthy, happy and productive lives is our mission. And much of our work happens in the schools. 

Even before the 2018-19 school year has started, the Humanity Project has been in South Florida schools in a big way. This includes our August 2nd Back-to-School event at Morrow Elementary School, where we'll work to create an environment of respect among all students throughout this academic year. The Morrow event was a huge success, sponsored by our good friends at Children's Services Council of Broward County. Just check out some of the photos, most of them taken by our own Leadership Council member, Keith Spencer. Thanks, Keith, CSC Broward, Morrow Elementary -- and the dozen or so Humanity Project staffers and volunteers who helped out. We can't wait for the first school bell of 2018 to ring!

A very happy child ... 

Hundreds of kids and parents attended the big Morrow event

Some sticky fun for kids

One of the wonderful families at Morrow

Our "Relay 4 Respect" at Morrow Elementary

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

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