Youth Financial Literacy & Credit Education - Melissa Alexander
Melissa Alexander was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ and lived there for most of her adult life. As the oldest daughter of six children raised by a single parent, she began working right after graduating high school to help her family make ends meet.
Melissa describes herself as “a giver,” and believes it is better to give than receive. She’s got a reputation of putting everyone's needs, problems and concerns before her own. On top of being an avid problem solver, she loves donating to many different charities.
It is the 4th of July! Let’s Put Our Love into Action
This is the day we in the U.S celebrate our freedom…Celebrate our independence. But this year, the 4th feels different to me.
We still had our picnics, parades, fireworks, and gatherings with friends, but it’s hard to embrace this holiday when so many of our freedoms are being stripped away.
Last week alone, some of the freedoms I hold most dear seem to have disappeared overnight: The reversal of Roe V. Wade, our ability to ensure clean air and water for all, knowledge that justice and truth will prevail, and that the Constitution still guides our democracy.
As I think about the enormity of what is happening and the far-reaching implications of these changes, it can be so easy to give in to rage and either come out fighting or go back into self-protection mode with a feeling that nothing we do really matters at all.
Bridging Unicorns - Getting to Know Grant Recipient Bridgit Wald
Originally from Massachusetts, Bridgit Wald discovered horses when she was 6 years old. She was a self-described “sensitive, gifted type of kid” who found a sense of home with horses. She felt a powerful impact on her body, mind and heart by spending time with them.
After her passion for horses turned to the hunter and jumper show circuit, she took some time away to focus on college, but always knew she would find them again on a more consistent basis. Fast forward to living in New Zealand post graduation, Bridgit discovered forms of natural horsemanship and training that spoke to her. She realized horses have the ability to cross over into the worlds of yoga and dance, and experienced the connection animals have to healing ourselves and our relationship with the natural world.
Celebrating One Year of Let’s Choose Love Mini Grants
I started the Let’s Choose Love movement in the beginning of the pandemic. One of the goals was to bring encouragement and new ideas to others in hopes of inspiring positive action. The invitation was for people to leverage their gifts and talents and bring solutions that addressed challenges they were passionate about. We left the invitation open enough so that people could apply for grants in any area that really mattered to them, whether the topic was children, poverty, the environment, animal welfare etc. What project could they do that would make a positive impact in their communities and the world around them?
Love Doesn’t Hurt
Let’s Choose Love extends an invitation for people to really get to know themselves, and then have the courage to step into their own unique life. A year ago a dear friend did just that. Love Doesn’t Hurt is her story of what she found on the other end of that invitation.
Power of Community Hands - Hakeem Weatherspoon
Hakeem Weatherspoon, aka The People’s Poet, is a spoken word artist, community activist and innovator that graduated from Michigan State University as a journalism major. Before college, he was born and raised in the East side of Detroit, and has gravitated back there after he left MSU.
In 2018, Hakeem started teaching at Detroit Horse Power, an organization aimed to provide solutions for two of the city’s most persistent problems: to provide opportunities for metro Detroit’s vulnerable populations (especially kids) and to provide a use for some of the abundance of vacant land.
This is What US – RUSSIA Relationships Look Like to Me
Three years ago we brought 30 teenagers from Russia, England and the US together to build bridges, forge friendships, and deepen understanding between our Sister Cities. As I reflect on that amazing time together, and the current Russia – US tensions, I wanted to share with you another perspective and what U.S Russia relationships look like to me
Mind Your Focus and Focus Your Mind: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous and Back
Stuff happens every day. We can slide from great to zero in a minute, depending on the situation we find ourselves in. The belief that we ever have things under control is an illusion; life is constantly changing. Cultivating resilience is key to navigating those changes successfully and having a sense of humor along the way is an essential ingredient, too.
Rachel’s Classroom - Rachel Shore
“Immigrant health is my first priority, as a medical student planning to pursue Infectious Disease as a sub specialty. I have lived and worked on public health projects in various parts of Latin America, and have seen the health disparities and human rights violations that this population has been subjected to.
Ali’s Cart - Alison Brush
“We’re different from them, but we want to reach out to neighbors and say hey! We’re the same as you are! We’re just in different vehicles. We just want them to get to know us, and feel comfortable in a setting with us.”
“Both Rusty and I are handicapped. I am on a scooter and Rusty is in a motorized wheelchair. I believe children should know that we are just like them and want to have fun.”
Acts of Kindness
This is a true, beautiful, simply lovely story, that I want to share in hopes it will do a little to restore your faith in your fellowman. Something we need more than ever right now.
Wendy White - Soon to be Founder of Let’s Choose Love
Puppy Love
A year ago we went into lock down. The thought of being a single woman, living by myself, without the regular opportunity for human contact was not something I was up for.
Well, one thing led to another and before I knew it, the thought of actually adopting and raising a puppy became an actual option. I have to admit that the idea of getting a puppy both excited and scared me to death. The level of responsibility was daunting, but after a few weeks of exploring, I opened up that door of possibility.
A Little Dimmer Today
The morning sunrise is a little bit dimmer today.
Beverly, an older wise woman, has been a dear friend and guide for me over the past twenty years. Whenever I am down, or when the earth feels shaky under my feet, or if I am confused about the next decision in my life, I have reached out to her. Just the sound of her voice would center me again.
To Mask or Not to Mask
To Mask or Not To Mask?
That is NOT the question! No one wants to wear a mask.
We choose to secure the swath of cloth to protect ourselves and others. Public Health should not be up for political debate.
I believe it is time we CHANGE the conversation!
So, What Are We Not Seeing?
Throughout life, some of my best memories were the times I spent hanging out under the stars. Sweet memories of childhood sleepovers in my parent’s backyard, big sky evening vistas in Montana, and wilderness white water rafting adventures with friends camping along the western rivers of our country. The magic of the night sky fueled my curiosity and imagination.
Let’s Choose Love Launches Today!
We turn on the news and the barrage of stories overwhelms pandemic, climate change, war, political posturing, unemployment, escalating divides, fake news … and the list goes on. The challenges appear so insurmountable that it is easy to feel like there is nothing you can do to change the course.
I believe it is possible. If we choose to break through our fear and come together to put forth new visions, new paradigms and new solutions that are inspired by love and fuel passionate action, we can make the difference.