ETHICAL TEENS IN DEED!
of New York Society for Ethical Culture, for 2014-15.
Directed by Audrey Kindred
Ethicsforteens@NYSEC.org
or Akindred@gmail.com, (212)920-4483
Ethics is the court –
Deed is the ball –
Teens play the game –
...And the World wins.
* Let's make ETHICS the "coolest"/ "hottest" word in NYC!
* Let’s make DEED the fairest and funnest team sport
in the field of Life!
* Let’s engage and nourish the HUMANITARIAN
within each human!
DEED is at the core of a program offered by Ethical Culture –
DEED, as the courageous action taken
to express care, to enact change,
to grow ethically,
to become empowered World citizens.
Through doing deeds together, people gain trust in their larger humanity. Working together in this way, teens (and all people) can safely foster a deepening curiosity and inquiry about one another, bridging essential gaps that are often created among peers through stereotyping and “othering.”
DEED is the ethically engaging medium by which we will foster both internal and interpersonal growth, digging up the roots of “bully behaviors,” and nurturing the roots of compassion. Caring about Humanity, Life, and the Earth can bring people beyond divisive differences into a space of shared concerns. By acting effectively on those concerns, people can bring out the best in one another, thereby developing the very best in themselves. Discovering deep rooted often invisible common values can transform how we see other people, relate to them, embrace them. Inspiring values that diverse people hold in common can usher them to explore new friendships and alliances beyond first impressions, stereotypes and perceived individual differences.
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Hopes for ethical action in high schools:* Schools or organizations, please let us know if you'd like to host a DEED-CLUB.
DEED-CLUB proposes this calendar of important days:
i. International Peace Day --- a United Nations Holiday –
this event emphasizes an understanding of Human Rights.
ii. Mix it up Day – a “bully prevention” vision
from Teaching Tolerance (published by Sothern Policy Law Center) inviting student to mix up cafeteria seating at lunch through interactive structures, in order to spawn new kinds of conversations and to seed potential new alliances among peers. It offers students the tools and structures to break out of clique-ish patterns. This could happen seasonally, becoming a school practice.
iii. Civil Rights Day – near Martin Luther King day,
this event emphasizes lessons of non-violence and awareness of Civil Rights.
iv. Speed Deed – an activity “fair” of peer-led doable
actions that serve a larger helpful purpose.
Deed Club proposes two field trip events during the year:
a. United Nations visit, with National Ethical Service
b. “NYC Speed Deed!” (at Ethical Culture, 64th Street & Central Park West)
* Schools may arrange to grant community service credits for participants.
Teen-Deed tool box & resources:
- 1. The three-legged stool: a model for peace builders (based on a vision by Kenyan peace leader, Wangari Matthai)
- 2. Teaching Tolerance -- Online Magazine for Educators
- 3. Anti-bully initiatives
- 4. Compassionate Communication -- Conflict Resolution
- 5. National Service Board: International Day of Peace
- 6. United Nations Declaration of Human Rights
- 7. Self care workshops: connecting inner self care practices to outreach, service and deed.
If participation in this program interests you, please let us know. Thank you.
