Careers That Make A Difference In Minority Communities

A social service specialist at work

Editor’s Note: From time to time, we publish original guest blogs on topics relevant to the mission of our nonprofit. This article was written exclusively for the Humanity Project by Rebecca Jenna, a freelance writer based in the United Kingdom.

by Rebecca Jenna

When it comes to equality, the United States still has a long way to go. Valerie Wilson, a director at the Economic Policy Institute, points out that racial inequality has become so normalized that individuals from different races have vastly disparate lives. If you want to become part of the push for equal opportunities for all genders, races and more, here are some useful careers:

Social Service Specialist

Minority communities often lack access to necessary services and resources due to racial and gender-based barriers. The good news is that social service professionals can eradicate these gaps by serving as a bridge. Social service specialists connect individuals with services that they require from hospitals, government institutions and nonprofits. Their training in sociology is crucial to their understanding of social systems, which is why these professionals continue to serve on the frontlines of communities in need. Working in social services helps ensure that minority community members can improve the quality of their lives.

Health Equity Expert

Health disparities persist due to the inaccessibility of healthcare services or even due to the biases of healthcare professionals. Recognizing these disparities, medical experts are pushing for health equity education. Health equity experts transform lives by educating healthcare professionals about the negative health outcomes caused by systemic racism and bias. Training in health equity can advance inclusivity by enlightening healthcare professionals regarding conditions among various races. This important work will help you improve the quality of care that minorities receive.

Policy Analyst

Public policies and legislation can serve as protections for minority communities. Consequently, there's a greater need for policy analysts focused on studying and improving the lives of these communities. Policy analysts can increase the government’s awareness regarding minority communities by creating persuasive reasons to adopt new policy initiatives. Those in this field recommend studying political science since this teaches students how the legislative process works, a crucial background to help pass legislation that protects the ancestral lands, the safety and the quality of life of minorities.

Now that you've learned about these careers, how would you like to start making a positive change in communities?

Kids Rap Against Bullying

We hope you’ll take just one minute to watch the latest video by some of our Humanity Project kids — members of the Humanity Club program. It’s their own lyrics, their performances … all to help stop bullying in their school and beyond. “Bully, bully, bully, can’t you ever see? Your words really really do bad hurt me!”

If you can’t watch it through the embedded video below, here’s the link on our Humanity Project YouTube channel. We just know you’ll enjoy it … and perhaps feel inspired that these young children care about the feelings of other human beings. This video is one more way our nonprofit inspires self-worth, promotes equality and prevents disrespectful bullying behavior, whether in the schools, at home, on the roads or in the workplace. “Equality For Each, Respect For All!”

Welcoming Three New Board Members

The Humanity Project Board of Directors has long been diverse, smart and very accomplished. Our three new board members just added significantly to our strengths. Today we welcome Mandi Hawke, Shaikh Shafayat Mohamed and Madelin Marchant to the Humanity Project Board, all three previously members of our Leadership Council.

Let us introduce you to them:

  • Mandi Hawke is a longtime activist and leader in the South Florida LGBTQ community. Starting in 2007 her experience includes 10 years in administration at SunServe, a nonprofit that assists lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning individuals – with most of her tenure served as Director of Youth Service. She owns and operates Proud EmPOWERment Business Solutions, a social media management and virtual assisting agency. Ms. Hawke is the author of two books: “PROUD emPOWERment” for LGBTQ youth and “Cosmic Unicorns,” a children’s book. Her writings offer inclusive, trauma-informed content aimed at inspiring constructive change in both young people and adults. Before joining the Board of Directors Ms. Hawke served on the Humanity Project Leadership Council in charge of outreach on the topic of LGBTQ equality.

  • Shaikh Shafayat Mohamed is a Trinidadian Islamic scholar and Founder/Principal of Darul Uloom Islamic Institute in Pembroke Pines, Florida. He has more than 40 years of experience in interfaith activities, the first Muslim to become president of the Interfaith Council of Greater Hollywood, Florida. Shaikh Mohamed hosts an international television program called Al Hikmat, which reaches a large global audience. A recipient of the Peacemaker Award from St. Thomas University, he sits on the WPBT/PBS TV Community Advisory Board. Before joining the Board of Directors Shaikh Mohamed served on the Humanity Project Leadership Council in charge of outreach on the topic of religious equality.

  • Madelin Marchant is an accomplished and active actress of stage, film and television in both English and Spanish. Cuban born and Miami raised, she served for nearly 21 years as Theatre Arts Director at South Miami Middle School, a Florida arts magnet school. Ms. Marchant sits on the South Florida Theatre League board and since 2010 has been Chairperson of the Junior Thespian District Festival, overseeing the middle school theatre competition for Miami-Dade County. In 2020, she was voted Arts Educator of the Decade by BroadwayWorld Regional Miami Awards. Before joining the Board of Directors Ms. Marchant served on the Humanity Project Leadership Council in charge of outreach on the topic of equality through education.

    We are very proud to add these great folks to our Board of Directors, where they can channel their experience and skills even more effectively into our campaign for “Equality For Each, Respect For All.” Welcome, Madelin, Shafayat and Mandi!

Worth A Thousand Words

We love this photo. It shows two of our Humanity Project kids enjoying a spontaneous moment together. It was unplanned, unstaged, unrehearsed. And to us, it reflects the essence of the Humanity Project.

Take a moment and just give that photo a good look. One smaller boy offers his high five to a taller boy of a different race who looks a bit surprised. In reality, these two know each other — both are members of our Humanity Club at Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary School in Pembroke Pines, Florida. (They’re wearing gardening gloves after helping to plant our latest Humanity Garden.) Like all the kids in that club, they are bright and caring individuals. But that moment, that joining of hands … it suggests something we find encouraging. To us, that photo is saying, “Yes, we can all get along despite any differences we may have.” It’s a small tidbit of hope in a world that badly needs hope just now. We felt this photo was worth sharing with you for that reason. Perhaps you’ll want to share it with others …

Our Kids Ask For Peace

We hope you’ll watch this new Humanity Project video. It shows kids from our Humanity Club program, directly asking Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine. To us, it’s a powerful message of hope for a better future — children calling for peace. Please share it on social media, in emails and texts. Anywhere you can. The world needs more messages like this one, surely.

Neighbors 4 Neighbors

The Humanity Project has a new friend — and a new partner. Neighbors 4 Neighbors is a longtime presence in the diverse South Florida community, telling the stories of nonprofits that make life better for kids and adults. Now Neighbors 4 Neighbors is sharing the story of the Humanity Project with folks throughout our region.

The mission of Neighbors 4 Neighbors is to promote the good work of other nonprofit groups. They carry out this mission through a close affiliation with CBS Miami, one of the major South Florida TV stations. Through television pieces as well as YouTube posts, Neighbors 4 Neighbors airs snippets that show some of the many ongoing efforts to improve South Florida. They also raise money for those in need at the holidays or after misfortunes such as fires or hurricanes. This organization is widely known for being there whenever and wherever help is required.

So we’re very proud to partner with Neighbors 4 Neighbors. And we want to share their first piece about the Humanity Project, a YouTube story that focuses on our Humanity Club program. You can watch it here: See the Neighbors 4 Neighbors video. It shows our kids working on our latest Humanity Garden, which was funded by Children’s Services Council of Broward County. Our Humanity Club program itself is funded by Our Fund Foundation and State Farm. We are very grateful to these organizations.

Big thanks, then, to Katy and Doug, Alexa and Carolina at Neighbors 4 Neighbors. We believe that our partnership will help many more people to know about the Humanity Project … and to benefit from our free programs.

Welcome, Debra!

The Humanity Project is very proud to welcome a new member to our distinguished Board of Directors. After taking part in our December board retreat and remaining engaged in our efforts, Debra Annane officially has been elected to join our work promoting equality and respect-for-all.

Debra brings with her an impressive resume as Program Officer of the Health Foundation of South Florida. An adjunct instructor at the University of Miami Department of Public Health Sciences, Ms. Annane is fully certified by Brown University as a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher. She has trained extensively in the Zen Buddhist tradition since 2005 and was ordained as an urban Zen priest in 2015. Ms. Annane has developed and facilitated numerous research protocols and mindfulness-based programs for improving health and health equity. Her work in public health engages underserved and at risk populations. Previously, Debra worked in the media including the Orlando Sentinel and Discovery Channel.

Beyond her obvious credentials, Debra Annane brings to us her warmth, wisdom and humor — and personal experience growing up in Jamaica and the United States as a multiracial and multicultural female. Her journey includes a hard-won reckoning with identity, migration, cultural constructs of race, stress, resilience, social justice and body-mind health.

We are excited to join forces with this talented woman as the Humanity Project moves well into our 17th year of existence. Much work remains in striving toward a community, a nation and a world that offer “Equality For Each, Respect For All.” Debra Annane can help us find new ways to advance those efforts.

Community and Corporate Responsibility -- With Thanks!

Today we applaud a caring and loyal friend of the Humanity Project — a friend celebrating their 100th birthday in 2022. We’re talking about our very good neighbors at State Farm. Yes, this is the centennial anniversary of that community-minded company’s founding. We are proud to call them one of our major sponsors.

And we hope you may want to listen to our new podcast with two wonderful representatives of State Farm: Jose Soto, Corporate Responsibility Analyst, and longtime State Farm agent Melba Ballard. You’ll hear a wide-ranging conversation about ways that this highly regarded corporation can help your community — and help you too. You’ll also learn that State Farm has just renewed their sponsorship of the Humanity Project with another generous grant, funding that allows us to provide our programs to both kids and adults for free. Thank you so much, State Farm! We can’t do it without you. Listen to the podcast.

One of State Farm’s annual efforts is called Neighborhood Assist. And this year, their program is bigger and better than ever. Anyone can submit an idea for a much-needed improvement in their community, with a real chance to win $25,000 to make it happen. Submit your pitch for whatever you feel is most needed locally — food for the homeless, maybe, or a community garden. Help for a school or care for the elderly. Find the details at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Many many corporations talk about responsibility to the community. But State Farm is among the few that actually put their talk into action. We are deeply gratified to continue our long association with this quality company, which supports in tangible ways our work toward “Equality For Each, Respect For All.” We must say it again, then: Thank you, State Farm!

Wise Words From A Supporter

We are often touched and inspired by new friends of the Humanity Project. Students and teachers working in our programs. Folks at events stopping with genuine interest by our table. And people signing our Pledge for Humanity.

Recently, a friend named Teri left a comment with us after signing that pledge. We think it’s worth sharing with you. She wrote: “I know that this world of equality and respect for all is a world within our reach. Your message and that of the Humanity Project is a balm for the soul and one I am proud to support. Congratulations on all that you have accomplished as you celebrate your ‘Sweet 16’ anniversary!” – Teri, new signer of the Humanity Project Pledge for Humanity.

Thank you so much, Teri! All of us here are gratified and encouraged by your hopeful remarks. We work hard to promote “Equality For Each, Respect For All” … and to instill greater respect for the goodness and inherent value of humanity. We believe that every human being has an equal worth. Our efforts are directed toward helping both kids and adults to believe that as well, which of course includes a core faith in our own value as individuals. We hope that you may want to join our campaign by signing our Pledge for Humanity, as Teri did. This is what it says:

“As one hopeful member of the human race, I promise to make every reasonable effort to live up to these words each day. Accordingly, I pledge:

  • To treat every human being with respect for their inherent value – even when I disagree with their actions, words or beliefs.

  • To look beyond myself, striving toward a humanity where each human being feels equally valuable.

  • To understand that this effort benefits me by strengthening my own self-worth and forging a higher purpose for my daily life.”

You can sign that pledge here on our website. Visit the Pledge for Humanity page We hope to hear from you soon!

Our New Speakers Bureau

The Humanity Project has just launched our first speakers bureau. We hope you’ll explore the list of inspiring topics and impressive speakers — and bring one of us to your group soon. We can talk to your nonprofit, company, club or other organization. Or just to a group of your friends. And we’ll do it anywhere in the world in an online presentation. (If you’re in South Florida, we can come to you in person if you prefer, using Covid safety protocols.)

We have ten speakers as we launch the program, with more expected to join. For now, all our speakers are members of the Humanity Project Board of Directors or our Leadership Council. Each one is an expert on the topics they’ve chosen to offer the public. And what an exciting, diverse selection of topics it is, 19 of them to date. They include:

  • “Intersectional identity: black and gay”: What does it mean to identify with more than one social group? What are the problems and what is the promise for those who identify as both black and gay?

  • “Respect on the roads”: Respect for others is never more immediately urgent than when we are driving. A former investigative reporter on auto safety offers insights and practical tips for safe motoring.

  • “Gender inequality and gender violence”: What is gender inequality and how does it contribute to gender violence?

  • “Supporting your transgender child”: How can a parent offer a nurturing love to their transgender child?

  • “Trauma healing and self-love”: A trauma survivor explores what it means to move beyond the pain and find ways to love ourselves.

  • “Microagressions: A Primer for CEOs”: A longtime CEO explains how fellow executives can avoid microagressions — those often unintentional comments or actions that may be regarded as discriminatory toward a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority.

  • “Religious equality”: An Islamic scholar’s perspective on the meaning of religious equality.

Our talks are lively, interactive and very uplifting. We hope you’ll check out the full list of speakers and topics on our new Speakers Bureau page. Visit the Speakers Bureau. It’s one more way the Humanity Project works each day toward “Equality For Each, Respect For All!”

Videos For The New Year

By the time you read this we’ll all be living in 2022 … or very near there anyway. So we wanted to suggest three videos that we love in an effort to start your new year with hope, joy and some music as well. We believe you’ll enjoy these, the first video created by the Humanity Project. The two others — well, you’ll see.

Then there’s this utterly charming video from Spain. We adore it!

And finally, we must share these amazing kids with you. The vid is fun, fast … and pretty darned incredible too.

Happy New Year, everyone! We hope you and those you care about are healthy, joyful and full of compassionate respect throughout the coming 12 months. As we say at the Humanity Project, “Equality For Each, Respect For All!”

For Kids & Community

Children’s Services Council of Broward County is a special friend of the Humanity Project. Today we thank them again, as so many times in the past. And we remind the community of their important work helping to improve life for kids and families.

CSC Broward is a tax-funded agency that supports programs and offers other assistance to make sure that children grow up to be healthy, educated, well-balanced human beings. What could be more important? Since 2008, Children’s Services Council of Broward County has consistently aided the work of the Humanity Project as we continue to teach kids about respect for each individual, about equality, about bullying and how to stop it. Our programs are proven effective — and we have 16 years of empirical results to show their effectiveness. CSC’s funding is a reflection of our work’s value in the local community.

We recently received another generous grant from Children’s Services Council of Broward County to build a new “Humanity Garden” at an elementary school. The garden project is part of our Humanity Club program, which works with young student leaders to help them understand and spread throughout their school the values of equality and respect. We are proud of this program — and grateful for the continued support from CSC Broward. We know that expanding the minds of children requires efforts that also connect with their hearts. Our Humanity Gardens are one important tool to do just that.

We hope you’ll visit the website of Children’s Services Council of Broward County. They play a vital role in the life of the South Florida community — and in the work of the Humanity Project. Thank you, CSC Broward!

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.)

All rights reserved. © 2005 – 2024