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

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

SED: Samples of endeavors reported for 2015

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

SED in Ithaca NY: "We still have time"

The Ithaca Junior Youth Group was formed in November 2010, and since then the participants have been involved in different service project in the community: 

o   They’ve performed step dances in several local Festivals (like the Food Justice Summit, the Boricua Festival or Juneteenth) to raise awareness about the power of youth to make changes and the potency of united work.

o   They’ve raised money for several causes - some of them sponsored by local organizations (like the SPCA of Tompkins County or Green Star Community Projects), and some of them international (like Hope is Life Foundation and one of their schools in Haiti, or Mujeres Solares in Costa Rica).

o   They’ve supported local efforts to ban the use of plastic bags in Ithaca by organizing video forums in their neighborhood and their own middle school classrooms, collecting signatures, and participating in public meetings to support this cause.

In 2012 it started in Ithaca a project organized by the Public Art Commission (PAT) called "21 Boxes", which according to that commission: "[the] Artwork displayed on electrical boxes functions as a form of communication to a moving audience with the goal of creating a safe, inclusive and inspired urban environment. Successful proposals will foster community good will and become a beacon of neighborhood pride." That project has been happening every year since then.

The participants of the group, all of them very artistic oriented, felt in love with the idea of painting one box, using it as a way to share a positive message with the people of Ithaca. By the end of 2013 they submitted a proposal which was approved, and they painted during May and June of 2014. The process of thinking of what to paint it was itself a great experience of consultation and reflection. This is how they described their mural:

"With our mural, called 'We still have time', the Junior Youth Group illustrates our desire for a happy future where people live in harmony with each other and nature, thus we created an image of a bright future. The buildings are powered by alternative energy. People get around the cities on foot, bike, and mass transit. Unity is depicted by little people holding hands and kids feeling safe to play outdoors.”

All of this is painted along the bottom of the painting/drawing in black silhouette, without color. The sky is a gorgeous collaboration of stars and beautiful colors, the style similar to starry night. A small fun detail that will appeal to youth is a TARDIS time machine from “Doctor Who” flying through the sky, which plays on the idea of time and the future."

SED: The co-founder of RISE shares "My father always told me that you should burn with passion and love for the rest of the world."

At 24 years of age, Shivani has accomplished a great deal in establishing her future as a student of global health and economic development at University College London, health policy at Cambridge University, and infectious disease control at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.  While attending a university in Georgia, her love of cooking inspired her to organize a culinary club that served the homeless and supported organic farmers. Her interest in theater inspired her to direct, produce and act in a play aimed at women's issues and preventing sexual violence. Her involvement on a debate team moved her to teach debating skills to youth in the inner-city of Atlanta.  Her international travels and field work motivated her to create a non-profit organization, RISE Glocal.  

The mission of RISE Glocal is:

The empowerment of communities with a focus on women and children, through education, community recreation, water sanitation and hygiene activities, nutrition, and health-based programs, based on complete community involvement and participation. RISE's vision is a world where communities are enabled to determine their futures. 

RISE provides, for example, libraries for needly schools, organizes sustainable health clubs in primary schools, and spreads health education through soccer.  It also uses creative arts to bypass culture and language barriers and connect people to health and environmental education through indigenous music, poetry, and drama.  Though based in the United States, many endeavors of RISE Glocal now operate in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Jordan, and Mexico.  Learn more about RISE at http://www.rise.moonfruit.com.  

Shivani shared what inspired her on the path of social and economic development. 

"My father always told me that you should burn with passion and love for the rest of the world. You should take what you learn outside of yourself and apply it.”

As an enrolled member of the Bahai Faith, Shivani is currently pioneering internationally.

SED: Our garden is maintained by a picnic and planting party

Our centrally located garden, created and maintained by the Baha’is of Deerfield (now in its 40th year of existence!) is a spot of beauty that draws attention and praise. 

The Local Assembly funds it and a member of the community devotes effort and love toward the maintenance of the garden and its significance.  A picnic and planting party in May 19 was a fabulous day for the community to gather there at noon for a potluck lunch and a teaching prayer.  Tim then directed the planting of the annuals to outline the circle of the garden.  Everyone did what they could, from taking pictures to separating the plants from their containers at a working table, to digging the holes and dropping in the plants, with Tim doing the finishing touches. It was mutually felt that this planting picnic and party should become an annual tradition!  We are looking forward to its repeat in another month.

SED: Multiple activities organized by junior youth groups in Charlotte NC

In the Charlotte, NC, there are currently two junior youth groups established.

During the past year, one group participated in a neighborhood clean-up, while the other group had a cake sale and donated over $100 towards a children's hospital here in Charlotte.

Other activities included, a game day in which kids from a local neighborhood were invited to participate in a variety of sporting activities and a recycle awareness day in which the youth talked to neighbors and encouraged them to recycle.

SED: 30 children plant a community garden for their neighborhood

Our cluster [in Florida] has a project for the last two years involving 30 children who attend children's classes from the wider community; one child is from a Bahai family who lives in the area.

Together, they planted a community garden as a service project for their neighborhood at the community center.

 

 

SED: From at-risk to rising college sophomores

The Jackson area cluster embraced several members of a 9th grade class at Lexington's J.J. McClain High School in 2009. The numbers dwindled from 7 or 8 to a final 5 in 2010.  These students were transported 52 miles one way to Jackson once per month for holy days, junior youth classes, and special outings. They underwent training in academic support.

They attended the Baha'i Youth Conference in Atlanta. All five entered college on three different campuses in fall 2013.  Three are now active tutors for Jackson Junior Youth classes.

The Jackson Area Cluster takes pride in having engaged, mentored and cultivated this group of at-risk 9th grade students into rising college sophomores. We trust this is economic development.

 

 

SED: 50 Examples of service projects underway across America . . .

Communities across the country share their service projects, many inspired through junior youth groups. Here are just a few . . .

o   Make a Difference Day – trash pickup in Texas

o   Food Dr. Jr youth group –canned food collection

o   Park clean up service – in California

o   Community Gardening – by junior youth

o   Lawn assistance -- in Arlington

o   Cultural/Religious Awareness Workshop with the Las Vegas Police Department

o   Anti-terrorist Community Readiness program – in Nevada

o   Interfaith Forums – in Nevada

o   Wheel chair cleaning – in Henderson

o   Apartment complex Trash clean up – in Nevada

o   Spiritual Conversations – in Springfield

o   Highway cleanup – in Wenatchee

o   Block watch newsletter – in Spokane Valley

o   Weekend student lunches – in Washington

o   Health& Spirituality workshops – in Metro Atlanta

o   Collecting shoes for charity --in Duluth

o   Making food for soup kitchen –in Roswell

o   Baha'i House vegetable garden –in Buford

o   Reading to children – in Arizona

o   Highway Cleanup – on I-17

o   Feeding Homeless – in Los Angeles

o   Beach Cleanup – in California

o   Assisting with Cancer Marathon –in Los Angeles

o   Junior youth camps – in Salt Lake City

o   River clean up – in Sacramento

o   Trash pickup – in Concord

o   Collection of Food for food bank – in California

o   Year of Service at Lou Helen Bahai School – in Davison

o   The Bendler Project - Classes for ALL neighborhood "children"—in Detroit

o   Sunday Morning Class – in Detroit

o   Highway Clean Up – in Boise

o   Greenbelt trash pickup – in Idaho

o   Backpack food for children project at Food bank – in Boise

o   Happy hands and feet - collect mittens & socks for homeless shelter – in Boise

o   Heat relief-bottled water delivery to homeless shelter—Idaho

o   Community deepening about animator program – in Lancaster

o   Race Unity Workshop – in Springfield

o   Neighborhood Children’s class –in Illinois

o   Monthly Fireside discussions –in Arizona

o   Reading with children –Literacy Program – in Flagstaff

o   Fund raiser to buy goods for homeless shelter – in Centreville

o   Tree planting – in Beaverton

o   Food bank volunteer – Oregon

o   Distribution of food & visiting kids shelters – in California

o   The Writing of a Will Workshop –in Westminster

o   Parenting book club – In Colorado

o   Neighborhood trash clean up –in Madison

o   Summer Youth Campaign – in Michigan

o   Visit to Elderly Home – in Royal Oak

o   Nonperishable Can and Food Drive – in Royal Oak