Good Neighbors, Great Partners

The “Good Neighbor” Company

The Humanity Project again offers our immense gratitude to State Farm!

We have received another major grant from this wonderful community-minded company… our consistent partner since 2008. The Humanity Project’s acclaimed I Care program teaches young children the value of respect for all people, including #respectontheroads. This means recognizing the value of our own lives and the lives of others by driving with care and attention — something too many distracted drivers often fail to do. Children can help parents to understand this idea, research shows. In our nonprofit’s focus on “Equality For Each, Respect For All,” we feel it’s important to include teachings that extend to highway safety because so many lives are lost through traffic crashes, especially among teen drivers. Teens die from highway crashes more than from any other cause. Respect for each other in this society must involve every aspect of daily life — and this means driving too.

As ever, a huge thank you to Jose Soto and our other great neighbors at State Farm. We can’t carry out all our work without your vital help each year. Be sure to check out our special website devoted to parents of teen drivers: www.thp4parents.com … It’s fun, fresh and informative. It was also created with a generous grant from State Farm. As the company itself explains their work: “State Farm's mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its 19,200 agents and 59,000 employees serve approximately 84 million policies and accounts – over 81 million auto, fire, life, health and commercial policies and over 2 million bank and investment planning services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 36 on the 2020 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more, please visit www.statefarm.com …”

So Much In Common

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Our “Seeking Common Ground” panel — diverse community leaders collaborating in the common interest

On Saturday, January 23, the Humanity Project convened a distinguished panel of community leaders for a conversation about healing our divided society. Those who attended and those who participated were inspired by the respectful and insightful discussion. The panelists intend to move forward with future talks among each other — and future collaborations to foster greater respect and equality in our community. Catch the discussion. (Due to technical problems, only the last hour was recorded …)

This event was hosted online by the Broward County library system in South Florida, taking place just three days after the new U.S. administration was sworn into office and only five days after MLK Day. Appropriately, the 90-minute session began with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “I am convinced that men hate each other because they fear each other. They fear each other because they don't know each other, and they don't know each other because they don't communicate with each other, and they don't communicate with each other because they are separated from each other.” The panelists all agreed this is one of the fundamental problems we face in our nation and in the world generally … and that solutions require us to bring together everyday people from a wide range of backgrounds, religions, political views and social values to, yes, simply get to know each other. It sounds so simple, so obvious, doesn’t it? But as we understand, it’s not simple at all. Assembling any group is tough in our busy internet-driven society, more so when the participants are diverse and often unwilling to meet with those who may not agree with them on key issues.

The Humanity Project panel discussed why human beings in today’s world indeed are so separated, and therefore so afraid and angry. Of course, the reasons are many and complex. But the remedy remains: We need to talk to each other and get to know more about that “other” person. It can’t happen online. Social media isn’t much help either, likely worsening our separation in real ways. We need to sit, face to face, and just talk. Clearly, this is a challenge in our Covid culture but we know the impediments will fade as the vaccine rolls out around the globe.

The Humanity Project’s commitment to “equality for each, respect for all” means we plan to continue our efforts to bring together many different folks for respectful discussion, as we’ve been doing under our “One Common Humanity” program. We hope that leads us to work with a variety of nonprofits, churches, businesses and individuals to forge a greater sense of community and to recognize our shared humanity. Because in the end, this is the genuine common ground: We each are human. When we agree to meet and talk with each other, as our panelists did, more of us can see that.

Gold Seal of Transparency

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Our practices have earned this Gold Seal

For the first time in our 15-year history the Humanity Project has earned the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, the highly respected nonprofit information service. This follows several years of winning the GuideStar Silver Seal designation — which also is coveted.

But the Gold Seal goes a step further to assure Humanity Project sponsors, donors, supporters and friends that our practices are open, honest and responsible. In other words, we do what we say we do … and we live up to our motto: “Equality For Each, Respect For All!” We indeed take our mission seriously at the Humanity Project. And we work hard to teach our core values to both children and adults, with free programs, videos, blogs, podcasts, writings and other materials available worldwide.

We hope you’ll join our march for greater equality by signing the Pledge For Humanity, which makes you an official Humanity Project member at no cost. If you do, you will soon receive a personal thank you email from our founder — and information about how you can get more involved in our work. The time for healing our communities has come, a drive toward equality and respect for all. We need your help to make it happen.

Seeking Common Ground

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We are a deeply divided nation – and our local communities reflect this split. Sharply divergent attitudes about political aims, social goals, religious beliefs and more often have resulted in misunderstanding, hostility and a failure to work toward a common good. The Humanity Project thinks the Inauguration of a new U.S. President offers an opportunity to ease these tensions.

On Saturday, January 23, the Humanity Project will lead a major online panel discussion in an effort to help begin the healing at a local level, bringing together a diverse collection of community leaders. This is just three days after the new Biden/Harris administration is sworn in. Our goal is to foster mutual understanding and respect, ideally agreeing on a course of action that will unite folks of very different beliefs. The conversation is called, “Seeking Common Ground.” No matter where you live, we invite you to share your own ideas during this free virtual forum. Please join us! We believe that this panel can identify ways to advance common values despite our varied perspectives. Afterall, human beings have much more in common as individuals than we have differences. Sign up for the Humanity Project’s free online panel discussion.

The panel will be hosted by the large Broward County library system in South Florida, organized by the Humanity Project and moderated by Humanity Project Founder and President, Bob Knotts. Panelists include:

• Dr. Laura Finley: Humanity Project Board of Directors. Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Barry University. Author or co-author of 31 books, including “School Violence.”

• Pamela Adams: President and CEO of Adams Consulting Group. Executive Director of the Fort Lauderdale Community Development Corporation and President of the Broward County Friends of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center.

• Evan Goldman: Vice President of Community Planning and Government Relations at the Jewish Federation of Broward County. Attorney and adjunct law professor at Nova Southeastern University.

• Shaikh Shafayat Mohamed: Humanity Project Leadership Council. Islamic scholar, founder/principal of Darul Uloom Islamic Institute.

• Pastor Greg J. Kritz: Lead pastor at Lighthouse Community Church. Longtime community activist.

• Dr. Anita Meinbach: Associate Professor at the University of Miami’s School of Education and Human Development. Author or co-author of more than a dozen books for educators.

• Todd Delmay: President and co-founder of the Hollywood LGBTQ Council. Business owner, author and speaker.

• Karen Smith: Community Outreach Coordinator of Sickle Cell Disease Association of Broward County. Longtime community activist.

• Duane Mellor: Outreach Director at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Longtime community activist.

• Andrew Leone: Director of Communications and Community Engagement at the Children’s Services Council of Broward County. Longtime community activist.

• Earl Maucker: Lighthouse Point City Commissioner. Former South Florida Sun Sentinel managing editor and Editor-in-Chief.

• Pastor Keith Spencer: Lead pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church of Pembroke Pines, Florida. Former U.S. Naval officer and U.S. Naval Academy honors graduate.

Please join us for this important conversation. We hope it will launch many more discussions in our own community and beyond, inspired by the understanding that all people deserve equal respect … and that only collaboration will bring about a better world.

Giving Tuesday & Beyond

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It is time for that holiday tradition, Giving Tuesday. We hope you may consider a donation in any amount to the Humanity Project this year.

Despite the terrible pandemic, our work has continued. Teaching equality and respect for all to kids through virtual classes. Holding uplifting online panel discussions to help bring the community closer together. These include two panels hosted through the large Broward County Library system: our recent “Equality Amid Diversity” and our upcoming “Seeking Common Ground,” which will assemble a diverse community group just three days after the 2021 Inauguration for a conversation intended to bridge social divides.

You can easily donate to the Humanity Project on Facebook, if you like: Our Facebook Donation Page. Or you can simply visit the Donate page on this website: Our website Donate page. Both offer quick, safe and secure ways to make your Giving Tuesday donation for 2020.

Everyone understands what a very hard year this has been for nearly all of us — and how very sad as well for too many. Millions of infections with Covid, hundreds of thousands of deaths, massive damage to the economy and to the livelihoods of ordinary folks. Most nonprofits have struggled too, one way or another. Canceled fundraisers, reduced donations, programs on hold.

But as ever, the Humanity Project has persisted through it all. We have survived for more than 15 years now … and we expect to be around for many decades to come. You can count on us to offer effective and meaningful programs and other materials — for free. And to bring you our sense of optimism about the longterm future of the community and of humanity itself. We believe in humanity … and we want you to believe in humanity. Join us at no cost today! If you can, please also make a tax-deductible contribution as part of your holiday giving this year. Thank you … and Happy Holidays to all!

Why Believe In Humanity?

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A fundamental goal of the Humanity Project is to persuade more people to hold this deep belief: a belief in humanity. But you may ask yourself, why is that important? And what does it mean?

For starters, think of things this way. Entire religions are based on one basic belief — Christians are asked to believe in Jesus, for instance, and Muslims to believe in Allah. Followers of these religions feel that great benefits come to them through their bedrock belief. To simply and genuinely believe is to become something new, something better.

The Humanity Project takes no position on religions, of course. We leave it up to individuals to decide for themselves. But we think that a powerful belief in the advancement of humanity, whatever your religious or spiritual beliefs, also brings great benefits both to individuals and to society. Because to truly believe in the value and progress of humanity is to believe in the importance of each human being. The ideas are inseparable: humanity is its individuals and their accomplishments, nothing more or less than that. Individuals of the present as well as of the past and future. And to honestly believe in the equal value of every individual automatically means we each must believe more fully in our own value as an individual. In turn, this fosters a confidence and sense of well-being that contributes to health, achievement and a desire to help others … in other words, to further fulfillment of humanity’s potential.

The details of that process are much more involved, as you would expect. But this can offer a brief explanation of the what and the why of belief in humanity as our fundamental goal at the Humanity Project. If you sign our Pledge For Humanity and then get involved with our work of promoting “Equality For Each, Respect For All” you will soon begin to understand more about all this. It becomes clear by living it. Sign our Pledge For Humanity. Our 15-year-old nonprofit organization focuses on working toward equality and respect with an emphasis on four marginalized communities: LGBTQ, racial minorities, religious minorities and women. The more of us who become part of this effort, the greater and faster our impact. Please, come march alongside us … and believe, really believe, in humanity.

Our 15th Anniversary!

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On November 3, 2020, the Humanity Project turns 15! We are proud that our values, programs and ideas have proven lasting. And we’re very grateful to every person and organization that has supported our work. A special shoutout in that context to State Farm, Our Fund, Children’s Services Council of Broward County, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and Google, among others.

As we look forward to the next 15 years, we also feel pride in the continuing improvement of our organization. Our mission statement has been thoroughly rewritten several times and our motto updated to be as clear, concise and effective as possible. Our Board of Directors and Leadership Council as well as our founder, Bob Knotts, all believe the current mission and motto at last make very plain what we’re fundamentally about. Our mission: “Instilling greater respect for the goodness and inherent value of humanity.” Our motto: “Equality For Each, Respect For All.” We see ourselves as spokespeople for humanity itself, reminding folks in our challenging world that despite all the conflicts and tragedies, among the many setbacks and losses, humanity continues its unsteady advance toward fulfillment. As a species, we are on the march toward equality for each, respect for all. Look around you — you will see the progress in major areas of our lives. Grand advances in human knowledge, major strides in access to water and food for everyone, progress in racial and religious and gender and LGBTQ equality. The work is far far from done, obviously. But step by slow step, humanity is gaining ground … “advancing on Chaos and the Dark,” as Ralph Waldo Emerson expressed it.

You may ask yourself, “What right does the Humanity Project have speaking for humanity? Who are they?” To which we reply, “We have every right, as do you. We are all human beings. We are members of the species Homo sapiens — and our membership automatically grants us the privilege to speak about human life as we see it.” We think a deep belief in humanity fosters belief in the individual human being. And in ourselves as individuals. And this strengthens humanity’s drive toward greater fulfillment of our best traits and abilities.

We take a long view of human history. If you try this for yourself, you’re likely to find it comforting. We each tend to become so lost in the daily flow of dispiriting news, political conflicts and disrespectful words and rampant inequality, that our minds easily lose a more accurate perspective. As Dr. Martin Luther King famously said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” And it also bends toward understanding, wisdom … and spectacular achievement. You and your family and your friends and all of us are the inheritors of a tradition that includes the Mona Lisa and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, the Parthenon and Petra, Hamlet and Ulysses and Moby Dick. We have stamped our footprints in the dusts of the moon, snapped photographs of galaxies and black holes, launched probes that have passed out of our own solar system toward destinations yet unknown. We have wiped out whole diseases, improved treatments of others. We have traced the obscure records of our history and envisioned ambitious paths to our future. We have gifts not granted to any other species, including the power and flexibility of our imaginations and an extraordinary adaptability.

We are humanity. So are you.

And we also are the Humanity Project. Yes, we’re justifiably proud of all we’ve accomplished in the past 15 years, including the nation’s first mass march against bullying and other large-scale events; effective programs that include Humanity Club, I Care, Antibullying Through The Arts and One Common Humanity; 128 podcasts so far and hundreds of blogs as well as original essays, fables, videos, music and more.

We hope you will become part of the Humanity Project too. Join our campaign at no cost by signing our simple “Pledge For Humanity”: Sign the pledge. Help us to speak on behalf of humanity’s best, assist in the effort to continue our species’ advance toward “equality for each, respect for all.”

A "Borrowed" Fundraiser With LGBTQ Roots

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This month you can enjoy a dramatic reading of a new LGBTQ-themed work safely online — and support the Humanity Project at the same time.

“Borrowed” is a new play produced by the team that includes the Humanity Project’s own Willie Fernandez, a Vice President on our Board of Directors. Willie and his Broadway colleagues were just nominated for two Tony awards. Like their previous works, Borrowed is edgy and fresh … and you can see this piece virtually for only $10. Half the proceeds will go to Humanity Project programs.

Buy your tickets at this link: Buy a $10 ticket to Borrowed.

And read about the actors, author and more in this article by longtime theater critic Christine Dolen: Read the article.

Borrowed was written by Willie’s producing partner, Jim Kierstead, featuring actors Rene Lavan and Tim Creavin. It was directed by Conor Bagley. The two-character story revolves around a complex relationship between two gay men, David and Justin. As Dolen’s article explains, “‘Borrowed’ takes place in a bungalow on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, near the George Washington Bridge. David (Lavan), a lonely older artist whose face bears the scars of cancer surgery, has connected with the younger Justin (Creavin) online, inviting him over with a sexual connection in mind. But things quickly go south, and after David refuses to let Justin leave, their encounter evolves into an intense evening of shared histories and, perhaps, the beginnings of healing.”

This is not a play for children, clearly. Borrowed is an adult drama that will appeal to those who enjoy watching the birth of serious new dramatic works, unoffended by sexual themes. The play will stream from October 22 through October 29 on Broadway Virtual’s YouTube channel. The first October 22 showing at 6:30 p.m. will include a live online talkback with members of the production and Humanity Project Founder Bob Knotts. There also are plans for an in-person showing during November at Drive-In at the Fair in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

We look forward to sharing this theatrical experience with the public. And the Humanity Project is grateful for the money it will raise for us, all to benefit our programs that work toward “Equality For Each, Respect For All.”

Wear Your (Special) Mask

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The Humanity Project face mask — now on sale

Now on sale … Not words you hear often from this nonprofit, for sure. But we want you to know that our Humanity Project Store now offers several new designs for those all-important face masks.

We hope you’ll show your support for “Equality For Each, Respect For All” by proudly wearing one of the Humanity Project masks. You can use the link above to go to our store here on this website, where a link will take you to the full store on Cafe Press. Or just go directly to the Cafe Press Humanity Project Store. All purchases are safe and secure, with high quality merchandise guaranteed. Returns are easy too if necessary.

Support our ideas, goals, values and programs — and show the world you believe in humanity! We hope you’ll buy one of our masks today and share the link with friends and family, Thank you!

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Meet Our New Leadership Council

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The Humanity Project Leadership Council

Allow us to introduce the new Humanity Project Leadership Council. We welcome each of them!

The Leadership Council is a group of committed activists who share the Humanity Project’s goals and values. Each council member leads a team of likeminded individuals, introducing them to those goals and values at regular meetings and motivating them to share our ideas, events and programs with the public. We first formed the council in 2014 with a generous grant from State Farm, one of our major sponsors. Now we have redesigned the Leadership Council with all new members to better carry out our work in the community.

Our six-member council is made up of the following people:

David Weaver: Equality Through Collaboration • Mandi Hawke: LGBTQ Equality • Madelin Marchant: Equality Through Education • Shaikh Shafayat Mohamed: Religious Equality • Gabby Bendel: Racial Equality • Carolina Magnussen: Gender Equality

Each person brings to the Humanity Project decades of experience, knowledge and commitment to helping their fellow human beings. We invite you to learn more about them by reading their brief bios on our website’s new Leadership Council page: Go to the Leadership Council page.

We know that Carolina, Shafayat, Gabby, Madelin, Mandi and David will be great assets in the Humanity Project’s work to help create a society with “Equality For Each, Respect For All.” Like all the rest of us at this nonprofit organization, they believe our motto is more than just words — it offers a way to live our daily lives.

We Believe ... In Humanity

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At the Humanity Project, we believe… in humanity itself. The value of our species and every individual.

Please watch this new inspiring video from our Humanity Project YouTube Channel, a discussion that explains our views concisely and clearly:

We take a long view of human history and the moral arc identified by Dr. Martin Luther King. We believe that if human beings embrace unity and collaboration amid our diversity, the equality of every individual, humanity's advance will continue. Please do take a moment to watch the new video … and consider signing the Humanity Project Pledge For Humanity at this link: Sign the pledge.

Thanking Our New Sponsor

The Humanity Project is always happy to welcome new sponsors. These organizations and businesses provide essential funding — and without them, we would not be able to move forward in our fight for “Equality For Each, Respect For All.”

Today we are pleased to announce a new sponsorship by the large, respected law firm of Florin/Roebig. With a main office in Palm Harbor, Florida, Florin/Roebig’s trial attorneys represent clients in cases of personal injury, car accidents, medical malpractice, employee rights, construction negligence and product liability. Their other offices are located in Key West, Minneapolis and Dallas. Visit the Florin/Roebig website.

The Humanity Project believes that human beings should show equal respect for every individual — and that includes adopting behavior that we call #respectontheroads. This means having respect for your own life as well as the lives of other motorists when driving. We teach our kids and adults that respectful action on our highways involves attentive driving, without distractions such as cellphones, food and radios. And we encourage children to remind their parents about this concept whenever they’re all in the car together.

We’re glad that Florin/Roebig shares our belief in #respectontheroads. And we are grateful to this law firm for supporting our efforts. Welcome, Florin/Roebig.