Arriving at Chapel Branch at 1:00PM, on a day that seemed patterned after the best summer day you can recall – Denise Oliver and I began walking our canines, and it was picture perfect. The dogs seemed to say with each whiff, FINALLY! Between the breeze and gentle rocking of air you could hear through the woods, it is an AMAZING place to be on a day like today.
Looking back over the last few weeks with developments on the horizon, it is such an amazing gift to be able to have a place like Chapel Branch to escape the marathon’s of to do’s the world recycles day after day.
a great community cleanup planned for March 26th at Chapel Branch and Newton Woods, our exciting Pre Easter online auction April 11th – 15th, of so many artistic and creative items that will make amazing Easter gifts from businesses all over MD and DE, our Beer and Benevolence Community Dinner night at Dog Fish Head April 27th starting at 5:00 PM – and the possibilities that are on the horizon, but add this all up and realize most events are within a 1-4 miles if you live in Seaford- it is breath taking.
After an amazing day and soaking in sunshine, we saw at least 10 more cars in the parking lot, talking with new visitor about the trails, and engaged in an amazing conversation with someone that remembered when Chapel Branch was initiated along with the Seaford Swim Associations’ pool, it was a perfect day to travel back in time. It was interesting to hear about the swing sets, baseball park, and how Chapel Branch was created to be a recreational area for those that became employees of DuPont. I have been searching for years for images/pictures that captured what these areas looked like, if you happen to know of anyone that has these. We’d love to gather these for an archive adding to the legacy of the Chapel Branch area.
With a day like this, the dogs rest and sleep better, we sleep a sounder sleep, and are able to face a next day where we realize it is better to slow down and take on the tasks of every day at a slower pace to take in the beauty we often rush by every day. It was exciting to also meet individuals today who wanted a copy of our recently donated book, Last Child in the Woods, and discuss the many wonders of Chapel Branch they may not be yet aware of.
Not sure if you have felt anything as of late, but I know – Anger, so much anger has been welling up inside of me and it is actually interesting looking back.
Most of my anger is directed towards the events of how people that take so much pride in their country, they are willing to fight for their Ukranian country at all costs – willing to drop everything and how much it touches them despite the losses and numbers against them – I am watching some of the bravest individuals in front of me.
I am a visual person, and I feel it is way too easy to placate what is happening by simply reading the lines, seeing the images of their pain, and fear, I can at least transport a part of myself to their plight and try to dig in and follow and pray for their bravery and success in the face of such tyranny.
I am not sure, well I am sure it is not on the level of when I thought I knew so much about countries from the studies I had from textbooks in high school and college, My biggest flaw was I believed everything I read and that was taught to me and did not question enough. When I travelled to Mexico carrying the views, beliefs, and stereotypes of what I thought was Mexico – I realized within a few days how off base I was. Seeing children that were one to two years old in the metro willing to sell stickers that would not fit in the space of a wrinkle in your knuckle, for hours just to get a few bits of change, until the wee hours of 3 and 4 AM, seeing how hard individuals worked day and night having the most minimal resources they could call home, and feeling the pain, suffering, and struggle yet immense gratitude for what they had without ever wanting more, more more, I felt so privileged to be able to truly take in the idea that less is more, the most important assets you carry with you are the relationships, trusts, and ability to help others – the “stuff” we acquire means nothing unless it helps others feel at ease, rather than just the pride of having things.
I could go on and on about how disgraceful some of my views were, and how grateful I was to be welcomed with open arms, set straight, and to truly view how amazingly smart, trustworthy, and reliable my neighbors and friends were when they had no reason to be amid a backdrop of views representing alot of slander, false portrayals and ignorant comments that often came from others about Mexico and life in general in Mexico in this particular case when I created a life there. (Thanks to those that took me in no questions asked).
Mexico was the most beautiful country thanks to the beliefs and values that so many generous individuals would not let those aspects get in the way of seeing me for how I, was, and how I could embrace Mexico as a country and realize how lucky I was to be a part of the country. I never take for granted that experience and the country made up of individuals that would bend over backwards for me and never know the whole me at first.
I transfer alot of this experience to wanting and expecting more from the world to support Ukraine, my anger comes in pockets from these areas – politicians who think they know what is happening in other countries without ever spending their time there to know the country and know the people.- that disgusts me. It hits me deep and causes so much anger in me when I see so many selfish people around me interested in things, things things, and often tend to go blind when it comes to noticing the people around them that need a ear, a conversation, solace and yet anything that matters to many are things things things. I am surprised at night when I have gone to sleep crying over hearing the plight and impact of what is happening in Ukraine, I can envision the students and friends I know in Ukraine and yes am worried sick, and with every complaint from people around me about having to do some type of task, or complaining about not having the latest this or that – my biggest fault is applying the open mind and heart of a people to my own country, as many did for me – one of many of my faults.
Guilt comes from me not being a better person for having such a short fuse when I see this occurring on all levels, disrespect for other countries, disrespect for other peoples, for their beliefs, blaming others for something instead of doing something to make it better, I need to find a way.
As a country, I find myself thinking the harder I work and the harder I put myself into something, it does alleviate me from being so lax about things and I feel I just have a sort of repentance owed for something being too selfish about how thankful I should be for the gifts I have received of a job, friends, good health, safety, and more. I take way to much for granted, way too much, and it is ironic I feel and see this when other people are put down, threatened, forced against the freedoms they should be afforded and are not given any opportunity to truly live. The anger boils under my level of realization that I wish more people would put themselves in situations to understand from the outside of their situation what the situation truly feel likes, not just from their point of view.
I write this as I try to find ways to better the world around me, find others that feel the same way, and try to form an alliance to put out fires of selfishness, greed, ignorance, and more. Some days are better than others, others worse the the day before – yet, the worse realization I find is the thought of not trying to value every little piece of gratitude that I am lucky to have that can’t be bought, can’t be charged, can’t be collected. I think these thoughts as every day I pray for a strength, a courage, and a power so vast that the powers that try to overrun countries, attitudes that try to tear down and out down others – find futile against the kind hearts that truly make the world a better place. Helpless in seeing others fight for what is right has been difficult.
I hope I continue to find those people who find ways to care with their hearts rather than their wallets, greed, and selfishness. It is painful to see so many of these emotions brought out in the affront against Ukraine, and I stay positioned to want to push their strength, energy, and pride even against everything that threaten it. I have learned this from some of the best people in and out of the United States, and that gift is priceless.
One of three students that had breakdowns this week, and they found refuge in the safe “third space”, the school library. Parents and teachers need to readvocate for certified librarians and school libraries that do way more than simply check out books. That stereotype is an insult to students and faculty that the school library can support. A great email from one of the young ladies this third space available to them helped. It is not ever about ME, it is always about what the school library can provide for students.
“Hey Mr. Brake thank you for checking on me and I like how you tease me it makes my day feel so much better and put a smile on my face you are my favorite teacher at this school and I feel like the library with you is my safe place there. I’m sorry if I been kinda been in there a lot I just have things going on and I feel most safe in the library with you cause you make me laugh and smile and brighten my day. I had a talk with my mom tonight and we talk about something we never did talk about and I’m pretty shaken on it cause now she confirmed what I thought I remember from my past. So I’m now taking all that in and it’s just a lot for me to process everything going on. So thank you for being patient with me and giving me a safe place. I really do appreciate you in my life.”
if you do not know the status or presence your school library or school librarian has, I urge you to be more inquisitive and more more vocal – and you will see positive things happening that you would not believe, stemming from a school library!
Most of yo are familiar with the actor named George Takei from the character as Sulu in Star Trek, and certainly a closer look at his life matches the star Trek them – “To boldly go where no man has gone before” – and it is easy to see George Takei did do that.
“They Called Us Enemy” was one of the most striking graphic novels I had ever picked up – and seeing George Takei revisit Japanese internment and a past that many would never want to have repeated, his ability to take us there was remarkable.
Even more remarkable is the open-minded, optimist views that George Takei has on humankind, all humans, all of mankind, from all backgrounds, all races, all manner of origin. ‘Lost Freedom’ is only one example of this remarkable reaction to the past.
To hear this podcast and realize, reparations are a small, tiny aspect of bringing respect to major missteps of our history’s past, and where we all can improve going into the future – is also remarkable. From television, to Broadway, to congress, to classical music, to publishing, to podcasts – anyone, anywhere can find a position to achieve and use that very position to inform and better our world. If someone that has been hurt and can rise using their position to reach across to all individuals from all races and forgive, move past mad-made institutions that often divide people into political camps and placed them in internment camps, and do so much to bring people together and unite them, such as George Takei, can’t you and I?
When I left for Pennsylvania to be with my family, I remembered I had a long drive ahead, and now that I had a working cd player, randomly grabbed three on the way, not really putting much thought into the three – and well here I was. Riding back home on the PA Turnpike, Peter Gabriel’s album, Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats, stuck on that line above, memorializing a GREAT man – Steven Biko – and thinking, how much this line, could be applied to so much that has happened in our lives – thinking this and much about leaving Pittsburgh behind me as I left all behind for Delaware.
Funny thing is, in the past – I never truly seemed to find the right time and moment to appreciate how much growing up in PA, as well as the strength that the city of Pittsburgh contains. I realized that the strength, awe, and love I had for Pittsburgh and surrounding areas I grew up in came from the strength of my family. The loss of my spirited, soulful niece Jackie hit me like a ton of dynamite, and had done so even more at her service Saturday. Obviously it had hit my family that had supported Jackie in the last few months, days, and weeks even harder.
My niece, Jackie Barnes, was the exact image of her father, my brother, Harry Randall Brake, and it was an understatement of how proud I am to hold the same name as my brother and father, and for sure, I always tried to have my name live up to the quote written at the beginning of this post in memory of my father, my brother, and the unspoken acts they had taken on in helping others. Stubborn, determined, tough as nails, Jackie certainly had followed in the steps of her father, and Randy’s father, as well as my sister Lisa, and family members we have lost and come together as a family over.
I remember taking in the parts of Tarentum, New Kensington, Natrona Heights, Pittsburgh I had not see, the bridges, the alleys, the plants, the breathtaking views of the rivers, all of it. It all took in new meaning this time around as the impact of having such a tough family that has weathered tougher times, it all would mean little and have less impact had it not been for the family I had been raised in.
As we were sitting down eating together following Jackie’s service, while we were taking in the soulful message of Dru’s tribute to Jackie, breaking down Jackie to a “T”, hearing Forever Young and The Band Perry delve down and bring back Jackie’s life in so many ways and place her in front of us one more time, it was all alot to take in. I did not expect for the losses of my cousin Trenton,father, Harry,brother Harry, my sister Lisa, it all came back in waves of how many losses have come in such a short time and yet…
…as I looked from brother to brother, sister, to niece, nephew, and more- our whole family, it is unmistakable to see the faces of my Dad, niece, nephew, cousin in our family. The determined success and hard work that my sisters, brothers, nephews, nieces, had put in and had made their lives be that flame Peter Gabriel referred to, they had done it and then some.
It always seemed to me, the gift we never saw coming was the ability to have the hearts of our family live on in each other,from being passed the talents to represent their lives, their names in everything we did in our own lives. It is so incredibly easy to do nothing, lament, walk in sorrow and not carry on, especially when grief at times can be so overwhelming. Yet, when we do find the strength from our family to do so, the lives of our family who are not physically here among us, seems to reside in our lives even stronger in our hearts if we left them. That had always been the hope I had to honor their lives through my own, through our own.
It is odd that sometimes through the losses we have, we come to realize the strengths we have come to overlook. Driving errands on Sunday, and hearing Forever Young specifically come on the radio, NEVER hearing this usually and now the timing being the exact time I did not expect it, it made me pause right in the middle of the road. Sometimes, when someone is so on your mind, I think you can discount coincidence, and I did that on this particular occasion. I ran through my checklist of thoughts mentioned above again, and amid so much loss, celebrated the family I had come out of, and it was easy to see, how much I am bias in being angry at the losses that impacted our family as of late. If I wasn’t bias, I’d have a hard time tying it to my family, not wanting my family to receive those losses – and at the same time, I was continuing to be at a loss, for the losses of students, colleagues, other family’s and the losses they were experiencing of late.
At times, the sense of loss impacts me when I would wake up in the AM, have a knowing list of “to-do’s” and not get to any except one, a victim of losses it seemed. It was difficult to realize at one time how fast a day can slip by your reach without grasping on to the to-do’s you hoped to catch.
Among all of the despair that many of use have had to work through lately, I realized the seemingly coincidence of a song that I had not heard for years reappearing again within days, the chance of a particular line of a song in a cd that I had not picked up for years rang true all of a sudden now, the revisitation among family at not the best of reasons or times, still reinforced the strength of family and friends in times that truly weaken your body. It is in times like these, more than any other, the very individuals we have lost and miss the most, live through us based on the will we have to let their heart, soul, and dreams continue to live through each of us. I have bene lucky to have a family and friends surround me that allow me to continue to do that every single day, through the worst of times and the very best of times.
That seems to have been the best gift ever passed on to me, that I realize more and more every single year. If I pay close enough attention, as I am celebrating the lives and what they have given to the world, I find threads of my own friends and family, that have done the same in ways many might never know, but that our families do.
When you find ways to feed a few hungry students, proof college essays, answer the question “Can I come to the library during lunch so I can find something and read”, call Collegeboard and clear up 2 student’s accounts, fix three computers, find 2 computers for students to take home and keep thanks to another organization, proof three poems from students interested in submitting a poem for a poetry contest as they are feeding their hunger, As they are reading something they have wanted to read, getting forms filled to students to be part of a Trio program that will provide them support into the future, proofing 2 essays for another class and adding comments, brainstorming ideas for a community project for 2 students in college currently, working with several educators on planning the best way to present a lesson that a student has struggled with, matching and finding a way to get a student to several teachers that needs the extra or different way to look at things, strategizing the best way for a student to deal with being whisked away out of state every weekend as that parent wants to see their significant other, this is all before noon today – in the library.
Students flock to a library because they know someone that has the skills of many hats – and sees the certified librarian position for what it is – a respite, a refuge and the library as a third space – amazing things happen. A certified librarian position allowed to do what they are trained for, and allowed to work with educators, parents, counselors, public librarians is the most powerful asset a school can have.
It takes educators, counselors, administration, faculty, public librarians and school librarians, working together, to make things happen. I am amazingly privileged to have the above categories all work in such tightly timed spaces, and respecting what each other can do, that make things better for the students. One of the best things said all day – Our Assistant Principal came into the library and knew a student who has had quite a “everything against them” environment say She was proud of the achievements lately she has made. She was over the roof that the principal KNEW her and the things she had done, AND that she acknowledged her on those things, it kept her moving and able to get through her day.
It was fabulous.
Those that disregard what a school library and what a school librarian position does do for students, those that are still in the 19th century of what a library and a librarian does –
I have been talking much about the passing of Senate Bill 195, first in the Senate, and now the House, requiring Media Literacy Skills to be part of any educational curriculum in Delaware. That sounds kind of insignificant, quite obvious that it should be and a “No Duh” statement/action, or leave many scratching their heads and asking, “So, what that does this mean?” or “Who cares?”
In order to see the value of SB195 and see how it is tied to librarianship, it is essential to break down some “Do you know’s” of Librarianship and what exactly librarianship is. So here we go:
2. Just as you would not want an untrained, unlicensed educator to be providing insights and passing them onto future graduates, the same goes for first having a certified librarian at every level, and making sure there IS an individual, certified. What does certified mean? Can’t anyone basically check books out to students? (it is true in fact that anyone that works in a library does not necessarily make them a librarian), and yet, there is some VERY important work paraprofessionals do to promote librarianship. A- ha! – so here is the important thing to know. The idea that books being checked out to individuals makes up the main role of a librarian- that is a task that an assistant, a paraprofessional, and of course a certified librarian CAN do, but a certified librarian means: a) In Delaware (every state has unique requirements for being a certified librarian)-just like every other discipline. Delaware requires a teaching license as well as a degree from an accredited college/university in an ALA (American Library Association approved program). The ALA national recognized degree is also stated in the Delaware Standards Board.
3. How does Delaware provide a path to be a librarian? Good question! Some individuals have a Master’s Degree and the missing professional classes the University of Delaware offers helps provide insights into the professional knowledge that changes in intellectual literacy as this area changes. Check out the options HERE . ALSO – there is a great program called the Common Market, that is a full-blown Master’s Degree Program in Information Science (which is a licensed, ALA program for certification of librarians), that specific schools can be attended, that will count you as in-state tuition, if your home state such as Delaware, does not have a Master’s program in that area. This is a GREAT opportunity and a HUGE saving. while providing the top professional insight into ever changing approaches to educate future generations in media literacy.
4. If you look at a typical Library Media Specialist/Librarian field of study, technology is a part of this training, obviously, but also HOW to interpret the world around us in lieu of so many claims, social media claims, public relation statements, and dealing with false news versus factual events, eliminating bias and prejudice, it is essential that future generations are not told what to believe based on someone’s agenda, but truly, knowing what are facts and what are false facts, in order for every person to be able to decide for their own, based on the facts that have been presented to them and facts they can internalize as true versus being fooled.
Imagine for a minute, NO SUCH PERSON is available to introduce skills of the contents of a book, how to find varying types of material like magazines, books, databases, sources for employment and building a portfolio of skills as students rise through grades? Imagine a student trying to figure these and other vital skills out on their own? Finding an apprenticeship, a vocation, finding grants and funding that will assist them manage their farm, tap into resources that will help them weather bad times, the certification in the department of information literacy and training certified librarians into informational professionals, is a very specific line of study that is meant to connect every other discipline together for students.
Think about that- that is a HUGE TASK to make connections to every single discipline for students in a very specific focus, navigating the world today amid a rapidly technological world. THAT is exactly what Library Media Specialists are trained to do – and imagine not having that person in a building to offer that insight at all? That is a HUGE reality all over our state. Many do not realize this.
Technology is important, but a technology specialist alone is technology focused, and not always infusing every other discipline with a personal tie to that education; certified librarians are trained to take technology, taking information, and analyze it, compare it, dissect it, evaluate it, APPLY it. This is above and beyond building a library collection tied to a CURRENT school’s curriculum, weeding, monitoring resources as ineffective or effective, and constantly asking and polling students, not waiting for them to come to the certified librarian, but always being a presence and a resource that is looking out for students.
In a day and age where support and a mental relief of knowing someone is in your corner to help with any discipline someone might be struggling with, or to get the resources to help with a specific problem area, certified librarians, as you can see – assist the daunting tasks educators have. This cannot be done when a certified librarian is non-existent in a building. Not even close.
5. If you think about one position in education that touches very single aspect of life, it is that of a certified library Media Specialist – think about it. Every discipline is represented in a library that a certified librarian has curated and checked, and molded to fit it’s schools curriculum, not an easy task when comparing a collection to the course schedule and planning guide for courses. A certified librarian goes into the community and brings aspects of all vocations, not just four year colleges, every single vocation and has aspects of these available to students from K-12. A certified librarians takes the newest and oldest technology and finds ways to make that technology work for students. A certified librarian proactively checks on students and find what they need, NOT sitting behind a desk and waiting for help to come to them, those days have been over for years. (Trust me, if that is happening you need to question how or why that person is a certified librarian).
6. No, a position as Library Media Specialist is NOT a comfy choice for a preretirement finale. If anything, Library Media Specialists take on the uncomfortable aspects of education and turn them into steps and paths to “comfortableness” for future generations. No, certified librarians are NOT expected to push agendas, push opinions, and push views of one particular focus, they are trained to make transparent all possible truthful paths, teach future generations how to weed through lies, fallacies and fake truths, and identify the truths and be able to decide for themselves based on the tools given to do so.
7. Certified Librarians/Library Media Specialists lead students to opportunity, possibility, connecting the dots from Math, to Science, to English, to Agriculture, to the Arts, to Social Studies, to Physical education, to literacy, to language, to the WORLD. With this position vacant in so many areas, think of the work and connections students try to make themselves and get frustrated because that trained professional is not present!
8. Yes books are part of the librarianship model, but not to the degree the general population applies to their role of what is a certified librarian. They are tools, just as Math can be a tool to understand a concept in English, in Social Studies, in a foreign language, a tool, not the most important item in the world, but a priceless one when applied to all other disciplines.
9. Certified librarians today are trained to, 24 hours a day, connect EVERYTHING. When they listen to the radio, they are always ears up! to see if something can connect to a student or teacher that can be used down the road. When certified librarians are in public and meet people and their insights into procedures or ways to fix things, when they are aware of community events, when they read information that can be passed on to assist another, when they make a connection that can lead another to success, 24 hours a day certified librarians are trained to not let one single possibility go by the wayside without possibly helping another and connecting, connecting, connecting.
10. Senate Bill 195 is pretty simple in wording compared to other bills, and yet -so is the importance and value of a certified librarian. The dangerous aspect is that the information about availability of certified librarians is largely unknown to parents, community members, students, business owners, and if made aware, test scores, college admissions and references, success in every discipline, using technology and having access to technology in a more successful way, working hand in hand with public librarians and paraprofessionals, all help students overcome in the growing and daunting every-discipline-obstacles that students come into contact daily, even hourly. However, the public needs to know more about what is at stake without certified librarians to truly provide the unbiased and uninfluenced views that enable skills for future generations to do the same. Your voice, your support in a bill like SB 195 to now pass in the House insists on the skills that students need to tackle media literacy skills when they are bombarded with media; media loaded with intention, loaded with inaccuracy, loaded with one side or another’s view while leaving out important details. SB 195 insists that that awareness and path to being informed truthfully, to be able to wade through those obstacles equipped with tools so they themselves can discern between the right path for them, is always available.
No one needs to be influenced, persuaded, or fooled into buying into an idea that is someone else’s agenda. What youth do need is a fair and equal shake at resources and media literacy that allow them to make the correct decisions after knowing how to obtain the correct details, and not someone else’s agenda. Enter the certified librarian that can deliver that right and opportunity to every single student in every single school. I hope this first brief look at what a certified librarian truly means to a school and to every student within that school helps clear up what the role of a certified librarian versus the “idea” of what a certified librarian does.
For the record, I am NOT against paraprofessionals in the library – I know some AWESOME ones, and without paraprofessionals, sometimes there are no librarian visits at all – think of that! CRAZINESS! However, there should be a certified librarian at the very least with paraprofessionals in every library.
Another point often made is that individuals that have a Master’ s Degree, PhD, or what they see as a similar degree level is aokay as they hold their own in the library. For the record, there is no equivalent to a Master’s in Library and Information Science. just as there is no equal to a Master’s of Education compared to a Master’s in Technology Information.
When a certified Librarian and/or a Master’s Degree in Library & Information Science is easily substituted and allowed to be substituted for another “equivalent” degree, the problem is it lays waste and credibility to the cutting edge skills that the Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science brings to youth from K-12.
#14 – The single most important thing about volunteering – it s free experience and an investment. If you go into any volunteering experience with the attitude or perspective that you are sacrificing you could be doing in place of the chance to volunteer – oooof- wrong motive and you will not get out of it what you could be – remember, the chance to volunteer is a chance to invest in your community, and also gain experience for free from individuals that have some knowledge in something you do not – priceless.
I know, you want a very solid example of another volunteer opportunity, right? Okay so we can all take a lesson from Ron Russell, volunteer for the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy – he continually monitors Woodland Road and from a road that is constantly dumped on, he keeps it spotless. If you choose one easy stretch of road anywhere near you, and do a before and after shot, – and reclaim that area from litter to spotless – it helps to show the before and after to the public to pass on what they also can do on their small stretch of road as well. Usually the ability to share these pieces of highway, road, street we all take a part in creates a community awareness of together that extends beyond our own next door.
#15- One of the best things you can do is thinking outside the box when it comes to volunteering. Also, volunteering is contagious. We are in a great position to be near the eastern shore, and taking an excursion to the beach and reclaiming the beach, as well as a local wetland is extremely satisfying to look back on to see what the before and after was and is. In addition, we have an amazing group, MERR Institute that constantly preserves and saves wildlife in our state and in Maryland – a GREAT organization to also assist with. The key is often taking a view of something needed in your community, and finding a new niche to tackle that issue and come up with a solution. That is something we can do every day, and something that can easily be passed on to every calendar day of the year.
#16 – okay you get a bonus one – styrofoam. Until you have done several cleanups in and around wetlands, bays, harbors, and dug down into the ground and see pieces of styrofoam in grains of soil everywhere, it is difficult to realize how permanent and blocking to growth styrofoam can be- yet, places like the Jones Landfill outside side Seaford allow you to collect styrofoam once cleaned, and recycle it! From trays, to Chik Fil A cups, to containers that carry the recycling emblem, yes, you can, and should. One person multiplied by 300 more? Definitely priceless.
Keep Volunteer Delaware in your pocket as a go to for keeping our communities moving forward in the legacy that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left behind! Many wonder how this had to do with civil rights? it is true the path to all is the path that brings us together- which is what these and many others paths to improving the service we do, improving out community, improves the service we can give to each other as well.
#4 – One of the best things people can do, that many do not do, that does matter, is when you are in a parking lot- bringing in one, two, or three carts into the establishment – be it Lowe’s Food Lion, Family Dollar, etc – it is satisfying to know you are getting some exercise, as well as brining in your cart when you finishing and bringing your cart back, and you multiply how many people come to this establishment and if each takes one cart, the day of many will be lightened- seems ridiculous BUT – it makes a community feeling difference!
#5 -A very cool way of realizing different cultural practices and beliefs is FOOD. With so much swirl around the topic of immigration, one of the best ways is to delve into foods of various areas, prepare it, and then comment on social media about it and describe it, as well as what you have learned. This site is a great place to discover foods and if you are in the D.C. area, you can DEFINITELY try the menu – but for us on the eastern shore, this provides menu items we can look up, discover, try, and discuss and tie to various cultures!
#6 – Piggy backing off of the above link – a branch of that link found HERE (Scroll down)- allows you to help tutor and provide English help to immigrants, and what a cool welcome to pass on to others!
#7- Piggy-backing off the above two links – one of the best ways to support local businesses, not just restaurants, but services, from plumbing, to construction, to sewing to more, YELP. Create an account and highlight services, restaurants, businesses in your area and help them navigate tough business waters amid COVID.
#8- DIY’S- There is SUCH a distressing time for thrift stores currently. I rely on thrift stores for jeans and always have been able to find a great pair of Docker’s Levis or more there for half the price if not a third of the price of retailer’s and often in great condition – frequenting thrift stores is one way. Yet another – turn your attention to the items that are often dropped off that thrift stores cannot resell. Posting DIY’s on how everyone can repurpose these items – effectively, will allow others to repurpose or regift items that they would try to just dump off as a thrift store that they cannot resell. This is a HUGE advantage to thrift stores and lessens the space that they would NOT be able to use a space. Start your own instagram to do so, and if you do not know how, as your local school librarian or public librarian, they will show you how and you can impact your community!
#9- Again, piggy backing of the idea above, if you have NOT used Freecycle, WOW. You can grab items that can change your house and help others and it repurposes for free items that would otherwise end in the dump – YET- here is a even better purpose – Find a list of families in need of items, and search, post, and request items that can be delivered to a organization, home, family that needs these items! I cannot tell you how many items I have obtained, and resurfaced, resanded, repainted, and delivered to families that could use it. It is am amazing feeling to give new life to items to families in need, and can become a challenge to take off as many items from the Freecycle list as possible to get to others. An amazing service and great way to help others – there are areas in Sussex County, Dover and Wilmington for Delaware.
#10- Detergent bottles. Yeah, most of them DO NOT get recycled. Move away from these from filling up the earth and move to friendly eco strips or other (there are so many alternatives now!) but take the existing collection and put your children, the neighbor’s children, grandchildren, or create a lesson for your closest elementary school and create projects that can be reuse these plastic monsters to good use forever! From beach and overall organizing baskets, to glue gun stands/holsters, to bird feeders,watering cans to garden lights, it is possible and those detergent bottles recycled into something useful, other than taking up landfill space, will be even better to look at for years to come. yet this allows a workshop for groups at the local library, school, or neighbors!
#11- Audubon Bird count. Every February the Audubon Bird Count is on, and this helps show you how to get together with your community virtually. The 25th annual GBBC will be held Friday, February 18, through Monday, February 21, 2022. We are developing a birding group, novice to expert, from the Vince Morris Nature Trail at Chapel Branch and would love to have your participation, and you will learn alot! Email me at harry.brake@gmail.com as we develop this network of community bird promoters!
#12-Events like Do More 4 Delaware and Giving Tuesday are the lifeblood of many non profits. Do More 4 Delaware occurs in March 3rd to March 4th for 24 hours – the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy relies on the support of our community- as many other nonprofits, and $3.00 per person x 200 people is HUGE!- Giving Tuesday occurs is always the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, and a great way to pass on non-profits that you feel strongly about!
#13- Find your local school library and librarian, and ask to review a book that is in their collection. This is SO HUGE! I am ALWAYS needing reviews of books that are in our collection, and this allows librarians to display books with community member’s reviews, AND you can dip into the unknown and utilize books that stretch across many cultures, and provide your reactions to this book and this allows countless displays of books for patrons to see a community member’s review and reaction to- this creates a better connection between the community – YOU! – and the community of students in the school library – which is needed! (Did you see # 2 of this initial post?!!) If you want to jump right ion yes, I need your community reviews all the time and can recommend books that align with what we are focusing on as themes for this month! Email me please! 🙂 A GREAT way to tie connections that many might not know about in their school library!
We have TWO MORE! We will post these later tonight to make our top 15 as we let you soak in the details of how you can be more a part of your community and spread the legacy of meeting, benefitting, and interacting with your community, in the legacy left from Dr. Martin Luther King on this Day of service!
Monday through Friday – looking around the WHS Library Media Center, I was impressed. Academic Challenge students were on computers at various stations behind the circulation desk, in the back collection office, Independent Study students were sprawled out preparing for presentations and projects, Medtech students also from Delaware Tech were interspersed working on their assignments being remote from the campus, Monday at least 5 requests for new books for our collection (by students and faculty), phone ringing every period for students requested in different classes, offices, teachers for specific needs, chromebooks being serviced and loaned out every other period, organizing and packing Christmas donated decorations from the lobby, to the library, running reports to monitor the age of a specific part of the library collection against the items being checked out, creating promotions for the month of January to bring out items that patrons would not be otherwise aware of, attending webinars for SORA, the Delaware Library Association,YALSA, Governor’s Outstanding Service Volunteer Awards, calling Read Aloud in Georgetown, DE as well as other libraries to distribute texts to libraries in need, calling the administrative offices to clarify requirements on a specific scholarship, and on top of all that, realizing that the students need that prepared hot tea, coffee, hot chocolate, snack, or extra sofa cushion in the library to bring the stress of what COVID has brought to our doorstep in schools and redirect to another location so students can find a haven in the library – that is what often many do not see.
I was amazed at how packed, crowded, and Grand Central Station-like our library was this week, and never, despite a high level of stress and need being requested, was grateful for it.
It is a constant sign of the needs of students today. Many never will realize, see, or experience the urgency of needs students feel from period to period and yet, this fact does not make these needs any less.
(Is that the longest sentence you ever read? Hopefully you are getting the idea of what certified librarians need to do on a weekly, daily, and hourly basis to meet the mental, academic, and social needs of successful students today.
Fast Forward to Saturday, January 15th, 2022. Perhaps one of the greatest outdoor classrooms, the nature trail This one specifically, The Vince Morris Trail as Chapel Branch. Unlikely dog walkers made up of waist-high youngsters, I never thought I’d se the day where Dane, Wriggley, and Amaya could be walked by such young students and yet, there they were, there we were. (There was one point where young Caleb, was HANGING ON to Wriggley, while Wriggley was pulling him while Caleb was HANGING ONTO the leash while sliding on the ground behind him, – yes, about 15 feet at least. Caleb never let go, not once. I thought I was watching an old western – Caleb as cowboy and Wriggley wild Mustang, and yet, the hijinx and laughs made the day even more amazing).
Yes it was 22 degrees and quite cold and yet, all that disappeared when we noticed the beauty, solace, and calming around us, even though the lot of us were spread put and everywhere. Community members, youth, neighbors, representatives of our town, we were all together with potential on this chilly, frozen Monday morning.
It was magnificent. You might not see the connection between the two but the details that many do not see, and that you might see upon closer look, make the difference. Just like the details of that ice of the picture here, caught in between the limbs of the downed tree, at first, I was seeing a tree toppled onto a duck box protector.
Closer look revealed this unique capture of ice frozen into the limbs of the downed tree. Many take for granted what they see or know what a library space and librarian can do for others, same thing with a potential nature area. Yet, these two spaces, the library and have the potential to hold large massed of individuals form all walks of life, and provide services that many do not even realize are possible. That is the beauty of inquiry, the beauty of taking part and putting yourself in the mix to make positive change in the middle of chaos, making a difference.
As the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service approaches, I hope many put themselves into situations where they learn something new about thew world around them, add something to better this world they have learned something new about, and learn how to add something for others in the future. That is the powerful legacy Dr. King left that keeps on repackaging and presenting itself in different forms today. We are the lucky patrons of that gift, and the gathering of our potential is limitless.
It makes the fire n each of us that much warmer at night!
PAVEing a Blog 