TRENDING 🔥
HAPPY EARTH DAY (April 22nd)
Look deep into nature & you will understand everything better - Albert Einstein
EQUALITY: Debunking the supposed divide between Black and Asian communities
In an opinion piece for USA Today, A’shanti F. Gholar and Linh Nguyen, write that while many have mistakenly started pointing to a divide between Black and Asian Americans, the real culprit is white supremacy. They remind us that Black and Asian communities, especially women, not only have a shared history of oppression in America but also a long and storied tradition of solidarity. Gholar, who runs Emerge and Nguyen, who leads Run AAPI, both want to continue empowering Black and Asian women to run for office so that they can continue speaking truth to power, build even stronger alliances and make it possible to combat white supremacy through policy and political reform. They write,
Time and again, generations of Black and Asian women have come together during the darkest times in our nation’s history to create incredible progress and move our democracy forward.
EDUCATION: Sesame Street introduces two Black Muppets on race
Sesame Street introduced two Black Muppets to explain and talk about race and racial identity. The TV show has educated and entertained kids for decades by introducing characters that represent a wide variety of people and social issues. The first episode, “Explaining Race,” is part of the show's larger series, “The ABCs of Racial Literacy,” to highlight and address racial injustice.
GIVING: Moonlynn Tsai and Yin Chang brought a community together with hope, healing, and a little happiness
Early in the pandemic, MoonLynn Tsai and Yin Chang founded Heart of Dinner at the onset of COVID-19. Their mission is to fight food insecurity and isolation experienced by Asian American seniors in Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens in New York. The pair began preparing two hundred healthy weekly meals for elders, which grew to more than 1,500 per week. Many of the elders’ faces glow with happiness as the packages arrive, which include a handwritten note sent from participants. Co-founder Yin Chang says,
“It's not just a meal that we're providing. It's love, it's support, it's encouragement. It's an uplifting feeling. That is the most important thing. So many of these people are more afraid of dying than the virus itself.”
TOOLS 🛠️ ⚙️
MONEY: People would rather have a robot in charge of their finances
In a recent study, 67% of people said they trust robots and artificial intelligence software more than humans to manage their finances. During the pandemic, stress doubled and sadness increased by 70%. One reason for people wanting assistance from robots is that they handle unpredictability without emotion getting in the way.
A recent review concluded the best free app to help partners and couples manage their money is Honeydue while the best overall app is Mint.
POP CULTURE 🎥🎵🎮
FILM: ‘Two Distant Strangers’ directors, Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe, tell ‘story of hope’
"Two Distant Strangers" is a short film about being black in America. It is nominated for best live-action short film (Trailer here) at the Oscars on Sunday, April 25, 2021. The directors, Travon Free and Martin Desmond, say the film is a story of hope and resilience. In an interview, Free said:
"I’ve had a police officer’s gun in my face. I’ve stared down the barrel of a police gun and that’s not something that everyone does or should have to experience, but all that culminates in this film.”
The film comes at a tense time in the US after 20-year-old African-American, Daunte Wright, was fatally shot by a police offer in a routine traffic stop on April 11, 2021. The George Floyd murder trial will conclude soon in Wright's Minnesota hometown of Brooklyn Center.
FILM: Former investment banker nominated for an Oscar
Former investment banker turned filmmaker, Farah Nabulsi has her short film, The Present, (Trailer here) nominated for best live-action short film at the Oscars. The film is about a Palestinian father who shops for a gift for his wife with his daughter where they must pass various checkpoints in the West Bank. After watching this gem, I wanted to watch it again because of its simple and powerful story that emotionally connects with the viewer.
Part of Nabulsi's success came from being self-taught watching interviews with famous directors and reading books on filmmaking. On following the rules, she says,
I think there’s a lot of unspoken rules and spoken rules and I just hadn’t been exposed to those to be honest and also all the great filmmakers that I did watch interviews with I noticed they all say break the rules.
NOTABLE PEOPLE📝 📖🖊️
YOUTH: Students lead US push for fuller Black history education
After George Floyd's death last year, Ebele Azikiwe, who was in sixth grade, wrote to the school administration in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. She is 12 years old and wanted fuller Black history lessons than the same old ones she got every year during Black History Month. Connecticut implemented a law in December requiring high schools to offer courses on Black and Latino studies. Last month, New Jersey introduced legislation requiring school districts to incorporate instruction on diversity and inclusion. Some schools are also adding books to the curriculum or examining them in new ways.
Authors and publishers are increasingly using sensitivity readers. A sensitivity reader is someone who reviews unpublished manuscripts to spot cultural inaccuracies, representation issues, bias, stereotypes, or problematic language. Business writer Mark Schaefer explains why he hired a sensitivity reader. Sensitivity reader, Mya Nunnally writes:
Being a sensitivity reader has been both rewarding and exhausting. Fortunately, as of late it seems as though the tides are turning in our favor.
LASTLY 🏠 ❓ ℹ️
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CFP News profiles people who collaborate on cool stuff that maeks an impact in communities. They believe partnering speeds things up. Archive issues can be read here.
Flavian DeLima founded Collaborate for Purpose . Besides the newsletter 📧, we have a podcast 🎙️ and run kitchen table conversation events🔥.
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CFP News is a weekly roundup of the best stories on how people collaborate and create social impact in communities. An online version is here.
We're exasperated, tired, anxious, and stressed. You can glimpse the light at the end of the tunnel but still can't touch it. Many of us are seeing new restrictions applied in our cities as infections rise.
2021 is better than last year. For example, Toronto's mayor said that High Park and the Cherry Blossoms, unlike last year, will remain open this spring for pedestrians and cyclists. He recognizes everyone needs nature and exercise. To see a live cam of the Cherry Blossoms, click here.
This Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr is fitting:
While this year has been difficult, we've seen examples of courageous people change things in their community. In this issue, we cover how people tackle food insecurity, equality, social justice, education and awareness, resilience, and innovation. We also recognize two powerful short films that received nominations for the 2021 Oscars, happening on April 25th at 8 pm Eastern.
Stay safe. Stay sane. Wear a mask. We're so close.
-Flavian
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