A collection of just some of the Social and Economic (SED) endeavors that took place in the United States and each represents examples of fixed duration activities.  Many of these are the result of junior youth group activities.

• Street clean up and recycling project, Chicago, IL*
• Fundraiser for a mom with cancer in Santa Rosa, CA*
• Abrahamic Women's presentation on the role of women in their Faith in University Hts, OH
• Adopt-a-Highway cleanup project in Selden, NY
• Art Camp for Kids in Rockford, IL
• Tree planting in Lake Oswego, OR*
• Community garden and food bank in Fargo ND,
• Ayyam-i-Ha donation of food to an emergency pantry in Burlington, VT
• Free health clinic by volunteer doctor(s) for those without insurance, in Fairfax, VA
• Donation of toiletries and non-food items to women/children’s center in South Bend, IN
• Parade float of youth with a sign “No room in my heart for prejudice” in Gresham, OR
• Planted trees and shrubs in bird sanctuary Forest Preserve in Waukegan, IL
• Beach cleanup in Shoreline, WA
• Book donations to book bank in Lake Bluff, IL*
• Bikes for the World collection and repair charity in Greenbelt, MD
• Bingo in a nursing home in Fort Smith, AR*
• Blessing Bags stuffed with basic needs for homeless in Reno NV*
• Virtue rocks and hot cocoa give-away by children’s class in Bellingham, WA
• Stop Bullying campaign in Albuquerque, NM*
• Slave Cemetery restoration in Hendersonville, TN
• Children’s Peace Garden in Dayton, OH
• Climate Change panel discussion in Gainesville FL
• Clothing drive in Louisville, KY*
• Sewing warm hats for cancer patients in Blackfoot, ID
• Fundraiser for Ugandan Bahá’í School in Manhattan Beach, CA
• Dedication of historic Black park in Mcallen, TX
• Navajo Canyon Habitat Restoration in San Diego, CA
• Food drive in Renton, WA*
• Suicide Prevention in Washington, DC
• Meal preparation for homeless in Evanston, IL*
• Making comfort bags for foster children in Spanaway, WA
• Free English conversation classes for migrants and refugees in Spokane, WA
• Girls Rising spiritual study and positive social activities in Peekskill, NY
• Good Guides mentoring program in Peoria, IL
• Gospel Music workshops in Los Angeles, CA
• Healing the Racial Divide community dialogue and service series in Decatur, GA
• Health screening camp for the homeless in Vienna, VA
• Making hygiene kits for homeless children in Encino, CA
• Pancake breakfast in Upland, CA*
• Pet support drive for the Humane Society in Casa Grande, AZ
• Police against violence community discussion in High Point, NC
• Public discourse on race unity in Alexandria, VA
• Empowerment of women workshop in Clearwater, FL
• Spanish translators for community health clinic in Woodstock, VA
• Soul Food Sundays monthly character-development classes for youth in Ellington, CT
• Overcoming violence through an arts conference in Chicago, IL
• Dental health project in Portland, OR*
• Trafficking/protection of minors multi-Assembly study session in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

*Denotes a junior youth group project

New Baha’i youth, teaching from “the middle of the woods,” an answer to prayers

Seth, 17, called the Baha’i House of Worship asking how to become a Baha’i.  He shared "I truly believe Baha'i is best for me."

He said he is from a small town in Georgia “in the middle of the woods.”  He is the only Baha'i there and teaching many.  Presently he is engaged with teaching his atheist friend who asked several questions about the Faith and has taught his ROTC Sergeant who asked about his Kitab-i-Aqdas book.

A Baha’i who met him shared “He is an amazing 17 year old from Southern Georgia, about 2 hours from Atlanta,  who has studied many different religions and is attracted to the message of Baha'u'llah because of its unity of all races and people.  He also believes in Progressive Revelation and sees how all religions are connected.” 

Baha'is had been praying in that area recently and were very excited to hear of Seth's interest in the Faith, an answer to their prayers!

 

 

 

 

“Whoso openeth his lips in this Day..."

“Whoso openeth his lips in this Day and maketh mention of the name of his Lord, the hosts of Divine inspiration shall descend upon him from the heaven of My name..”  --Baha'u'llah

After a Baha'i opened his lips about the Baha'i Faith, Laura of Tacoma, WA accepted the Teachings and registered online followed by her husband 4 days later.  Laura shared a little bit about her spiritual path:

She explained she was raised Christian and believed in God and that Jesus was a “Great Messenger of God,” but never felt that was the right path for her, and had not been involved in a religious community for a few years because she could find no like-minded people. She says she always thought everybody was equal, not that men were better able. She never understood why people disliked other religions - to her "it's all the same God."

Laura said she had heard of the Baha’i Faith several years ago, but last week while walking in her neighborhood, her son ran to play with some boys, and their father, Joseph, began to talk to her about the Baha’i Faith. She then searched online, reading about the Baha’i Faith on Wikipedia, bahai.org, and bahai.us, and requested more information online. They were invited to a devotional, which they really enjoyed, and found very comfortable. Laura says she believes the teachings of Baha'u'llah are God’s teachings for today, and that the Baha’i Faith “made sense… it sparked something in me… it felt right.”

Four days later her husband also registered online after realizing that the Baha'i teachings were what he had believed for a long time. He said he was reluctant to sign up at first because he believed the religions all had the same weight and didn't want to commit, saying he was one religion.  He said he is in a rock band, just got a record deal and hopes to be able to work in what he loves. He was told about current efforts to put Baha'i Writings to music, and was very interested in getting involved in that.    

 

 

 

Seekers immediately participating in service

Abigail of Washington DC is a new Baha’i who is currently going to devotions and firesides and wants to start a study circle. 

In late January 2017, Abigail viewed the Rainn Wilson interview with Oprah. She then was so desperate to contact Baha'is she made a profile on 'Baha'i Singles' She made contact with a Baha'i named Hassan serving in South Carolina full time. Abigail made a visit to the DC Baha'i Center Sunday morning devotional program at the DC Baha'i Center where she met some other Baha'is. Abigail has a family background involving Evangelical Christianity. The Baha'i she met at the DC Center comes from the very same background and may be a strong resource for her in the future.

In the meantime, the Baha’i she met on the website, Hassan, made arrangements to travel to DC to meet Abigail.  The Area Teaching Committee Secretary put Hassan into contact with fellow ATC member doing home visits just that morning.So Abigail & Hassan did home visits together.

This is the second recent seeker that was able to meet a Baha'i and participate in a service activity the same day. This is a fascinating development within the cluster where seekers are able to participate in diverse activities during their initial meetings with Baha'is. Before it was being invited to a devotional or fireside. Now it is participating in a junior youth group activity, a children's class or, in this case, accompanying a home visit. 

SED Endeavors: More examples in the United States - 15 "fixed" and 7 "sustained"

More examples of FIXED duration projects underway across the United States in Riḍván 2016

• Gatherings to discuss such topics as the equality of men and women, education of children, parenting, and health, in Rockville MD
• Homework assistance in an apartment complex, in Bethlehem, PA
• Toiletries for homeless girls and youth, a service project in Pleasanton, CA
• A one-week service camp for children with projects for several organizations, in Corvallis OR
• Using arts as a means of building community, a collaboration in Clarkston, GA
• Making Collars for and Visiting Guide Dog Puppies, in Manatee County, FL (a junior youth project)
• A food drive for local food bank, in Peachtree Corners, GA (a junior youth project)
• An environmental trail clean-up, in Chula Vista, CA (a junior youth project)
• A health camp for junior youth, in Boston, MA
• A lemonade stand fundraiser for a local children’s hospital, in Arlington, MA
• Participation in a City-wide Roadside Clean-up Day, in Marquette, MI
• Carmel Baha'i School for Youth and Jr. Youth: Building Vibrant Communities summer camp in Fall Creek, OR
• An Indigenous Gathering, hosted by the Continental Board of Counselors in Houck, AZ
• Planting a garden with kids, in Edinburg, TX
• Volunteering at a soup kitchen in Evanston, IL

More examples of some SUSTAINED ENDEAVORS reported within the United States . . .

• The Mona Foundation, an educational program in Kirkland, WA (visit: https://www.monafoundation.org/)
• A Bahá’í Choir for World Peace, in Baltimore, MD
• The Bahá’í Chair for World Peace, at the University of Maryland, MD (visit: http://www.bahaichair.umd.edu/)
• The Unity Museum, an educational endeavor, in Seattle, WA (visit: http://unitymuseum.org/)
• A scholarship Fund to local community college, by the Local Assembly of Walla Walla, WA
• A recording studio which promotes wholesome musical arts, spoken word, and oral history in Dallas, TX
• Parent University in Savannah, GA (visit:  https://www.facebook.com/ParentUniversitySav/)

SED Endeavors in the USA - 30 examples of FIXED duration projects & 5 examples of SUSTAINED endeavors

A collection of just some of the Social and Economic (SED) endeavors that took place over the past year, represent examples of fixed duration activities. Many of them are the result of junior youth group (JYG) activities.

• Assembled "survival kits" for homeless youth shelter clients, in Seattle, WA (a JYG project)
• Assisting with Soup Kitchen at a homeless shelter, in Denver CO (a JYG project)
• Adopt-a-mile road clean up, in Alpharetta GA (a JYG project)
• Produced a video about the environment and recycling by an elementary school, in Chicago, IL
• Tai Kwan Do classes for children & junior youth, in Conway, SC
• A science & religion workshop hosted at Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, in Hemingway, SC
• Forest stewardship, in Northbrook, IL
• Tree planting, wall painting, volunteering at breast cancer walk, volunteering at an animal shelter, in Fresno, CA (JYG projects)
• Made bird feeders for nursing home and school, in Lewisville, TX (a JYG project)
• Homework Assistance Thursday at the San Diego CA Bahá’í Center
• Manicures at a nursing home, in Nashville, TN (a JYG project)
• Beach clean-up, in Richmond, CA (a JYG project)
• Mistletoe Sale to benefit homeless shelter, in Cottage Grove, OR (a JYG project)
• Food for Lane County food bank, an agricultural-community garden project, in Eugene, OR
• Syrian Refugee project, in Phoenix, AZ
• Blankets for seniors in assisted living centers, in Grand Rapids, MI (a youth and young adults project)
• Education is not a crime campaign, in Rancho Mirage, CA
• Slave Cemetery Clean-up, in Hendersonville, TN
• Made blankets, took them to homeless shelter serving families, in Des Moines, IA (a JYG project)
• Car wash fundraiser for trip to the UN to benefit refugees, in Hopewell, NJ (a JYG project)
• Participation in city-wide planning to identify issues and create solutions, in Rockford, IL
• Disaster prep workshop, for health & safety, in Vancouver, WA
• Teach knitting and crocheting to students in after school program, in Florence, OR
• Seminar on “What is Our Path of Service for the Betterment of the World?” in Adamstown, MD
• Ayyam-i-Ha Pet drive, collected supplies for humane society shelter, in Casa Grande, AZ
• Participation in a peace event organized by Interfaith Council, in La Mesa, CA
• Organized children’s activities during school breaks at the Maplewood Library, in Rochester, NY
• Panel discussion on World Religions, at Ball State University in Muncie, IN
• Painted outdoor furniture and cleaned up retreat center, in Dallas, TX
• Stuffed “Blessing Bags” with basic needs to handout to homeless, in Everett, WA (a JYG project)
• Carmel Baha'i School for Youth and Jr. Youth: Building Vibrant Communities summer camp in Fall Creek, OR

Some examples of sustained endeavors reported this year.

• WLGI, radio Bahá’í (http://wlgi.org/) in Hemingway, SC
• Tahirih justice Center (http://www.tahirih.org/), for protection of immigrant women & girls, in Falls Church, VA
• Multicultural Health education for minorities, in Sarasota, FL
• Health for Humanity (http://www.healthforhumanity.us/), bringing together people and resources to solve problems, in New York, NY
• The Children’s Theater Company (www.facebook.com/CTCNYC),  bring out the voices of children and youth for positive change, in New York, NY

Examples of SED Endeavors across the USA

Some examples of social and economic development endeavors underway across the country . . .

o   Planting a garden in a neighborhood in Naples FL with another organization

o   Offering seminars and scholarships through the Esperanza Foundation in Portola CA

o   Church-sponsored talks, potluck and speakers on MLK Day in Scottsville VA

o   “To Light a Candle” documentary on religious and educational freedom, across the USA

o   Roadside cleanup in Grand Rapids MN

o   “Education is not a Crime” seminar and consultations, across the USA

o   Pet rescue volunteer service in Trophy Club TX

o   Clothing drive in Camas WA

o   Student Virtues Aware program to high school students in La Crescenta CA

o   Tutoring program in Bethlehem PA

o   Earth Day Fair on climate change in Milford MI

o   Race Equality Discourse in Rocklin CA

o   Brilliant Stars Park cleanup in Fontana CA

o   Trash Bash neighborhood cleanup in Richardson TX