Where I'm From

I am from muddy boots
from weather-worn Levis and ballcaps.
I am from the state of the peach.
Warm, never-ending sunshine, bittersweet Autumn winds
It iced the tip of my nose.


I am from the cotton fields,
the live oak,
that stood up strong, even when it hailed.


I’m from the sailing and loud speaking,
from Amy and Derek.
I’m from the strong-willed
and stubborn-minded.
From Give Me Some Sugar! and Roll Tide Roll!
I’m from the church choir on Sundays
and the preacher with the Bible
and the pews in the second to last row.


I’m from the Cazenovia and Fairhope Branch.
Biscuits with gravy and peach cobbler.
From the antique dolls in the glass case at my great-grandfather’s house,
to the bonfires in the summer with my grandfather.


I am from apple pie in Autumn,
from fresh squeezed lemonade in the Summer.
I’m from Cherokee Roses in spring,
frost covered Pine branches in the winter.
I am from wooden playgrounds,
from old libraries.
I am from the smell of dew on the grass in the morning,
and the moist, heavy air in the afternoon.
I am from the train whistle in early dawn,
and the cicadas at twilight.


I’m from rain pouring down on the roof,
the lulling sound of the wind slapping the shutters.
I am from the droughts in Summer,
the iced roads in winter.


I am from open skies,
dotted with snow white clouds,
soft like a tuft of cotton.
I’m from the stars at night,
glittering like diamonds
thrown against black velvet.


I am from home-cooking.
From stained pots and pans.
I’m from old trinkets,
ornaments, salt-shakers, snow globes.
They sat on a dusty shelf.
I am from the grand piano
that lived beside the hearth.
Keys of ivory, black and white,
finely written notes in black ink
against a crisp sheet of paper.


Kept on my bedside are wooden frames
Snapshots of memories
Too many faces to remember,
too many faces to forget
I am from those moments
Like the dead leaves in the wind
Whisked from place to place,
taking memories with me as I go.

Open Doors

Image from Jisc

NEVER does she desire to tame her curiosity.

        She seeks the answers. 

               Inside of her head questions insinuate viciously. 

                         Answers open doors to further curiosity.

Change is Possible!

Sometimes, small steps result in big accomplishments. Read on to discover how three young adults took that first small step towards making a difference.

Talia Leman started with the small idea of trick or treating for coins instead of candy to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims and ended up earning over 10 million dollars to make a difference in the world. Watch her video and visit her website, Random Kids, to see how small acts make a big difference. Change is possible!

Rachel Wheeler started with the idea of helping the poor in Haiti and has raised enough money to build 27 homes. Watch her video to see how she maintained her focus and optimism. Change is possible!

Mary Margaret O'Neill started a website called, Kids Are Heroes, to encourage kids young adults to take action in making the world a better place. Watch her PSA (public service announcement) about how her idea started and what her organization is all about. Change is possible!

You can make a difference too; it is possible!

You Can Make A Difference!

As we begin the solutions part of our Human Rights Challenge Based Learning Unit , consider how you can make a difference. Watch Jeremy Gilley's TEDtalk video to learn how he is working towards creating peace in our world.






In his TEDtalks speech, Gilley tells the story of how he fought to have people around the globe put down their weapons for at least one day, so countries can get help to millions of children in war-torn areas.  September 21 is now officially recognized as Peace Day. One day can make a difference. You too can make a difference.

Human Rights: Making the Invisible, Visible

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 29, it states we have a responsibility to other people to protect their rights and freedoms.  When considering our yearlong essential question of what is worth fighting for, it is certain human rights are worth fighting for.

So far, in this Challenge Based Learning Unit, you have have been exposed to a variety of human rights issues in Malaysia through centers. Following your exploration, you participated in a democratic process called Focusing Four, in order to choose an issue you wanted to work towards resolving by engaging in authentic research, coming up with, and implementing solutions in order to make a difference. So began your journey...

Behind Closed Doors by Artworks for Freedom

"24/7, taking care of the household, the children.  Never allowed to go out.  I was their slave."

Identity, Unknown
by Sweta Srivastava Vikram

The ants in the wall
don‘t know me.
The roaches breeding
on the leftovers disregard me.
The house lizard mocks
my inability to detach.
The tides in the sea
urge me to forfeit.
My absence creates the presence of a fact:
I didn‘t exist for those I lived.

Both the artwork and poem above speak to the heart of the issues behind domestic worker abuse and human trafficking. Human rights abuses marginalize victims leaving them feeling powerless over their situation. Victims of abuse need our help to escape the vicious cycle they are trapped in.

You have spent this week researching information to help you identify the scope of the issue. Facts, statistics and personal stories have allowed you to make an 'invisible population' of victims, 'visible' to you. We want you to reflect on your experience.

On your personal blog, create a new post and write a reflection that documents the first step of your journey towards fighting to protect the rights and freedoms of others. In your reflection, complete the steps below:

• Title your post, "Making the Invisible, Visible: The first step..."
• Add an image or poem that captures the issue you are addressing
• Write a reflection that answers the following questions: 
• What is the issue or challenge you are addressing? Explain.
• Why is this important to you and your community and who does it impact? Explain.
• What kinds of surprises have you encountered in your research?
• How does learning about this issue make you feel and why?

Malala Yousafzai - Fighting for Children's Rights

Malala Yousafzai: Portrait of the Girl Blogger

Malala Yousafzai is a 15 year old Pakistani girl recovering from an attack by the Taliban.  In 2009, she began writing a blog for the BBC Urdu under the pen name Gul Makai.  Her blog discussed how the Taliban's rule to ban girls from attending school was affecting her and her schoolmates, believing it is every girl's right to receive an education.  Tragically, Malala was shot by the Taliban for her defiance against them.  Although she lived through the event, she is still in critical condition.  The New York Times reported that a Taliban spokesman said her crusade for education rights is an "obscenity" and if she survives, "the militants will certainly try to kill her again."

Who are YOU?

Alice, while in Wonderland, is presented with the question, "Who are YOU?" by the Caterpillar. A simple question, yet most challenging to answer. Understandably, Alice is stumped. Stammering, she replies, “rather shyly, ‘I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.’”  Life presents us with many factors that shape the person we are today and the person we may become in the future. One day we are confident and feel we can accomplish anything, and the next day we are uncertain of our capabilities. Young adults, in particular, struggle with who they are and where they belong, as the world is changing as fast as they are. In fact, it may seem as though they are falling down a rabbit hole only to find themselves in a strange world. Becoming aware of the factors that surround you may help you shape the person you want to become, helping you to crawl out of the rabbit hole and answer the Caterpillar’s question, “Who are YOU?” 

Many young adults around the world, have made sense of their world, realized their potential, and have become giving, global citizens. The International Children's Peace Prize organization presents an annual award “to a child, whose courageous or otherwise remarkable acts have made a difference in countering problems, which affect children around the world.”  These young adults, because of the factors that surrounded them (good and/or bad), fought to not only make their life better, but also the lives of other children. If asked, “Who are you?”, they can proudly respond, "I am someone who fights to make a difference."

This year, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu, presented the International Peace Prize 2012 to a 13 year old boy named  Kesz.  As a result of the factors that impacted Kesz’s life; “abused and forced to scavenge dumpsites at the age of two”, he is fighting to improve the rights of street children in the Philippines “where more than 246,000 street children are subjected to abuse, violence and child labour.” See video below that shares Kesz’s personal identity journey:

Kesz is not alone; read about other exceptional award winning recipients from 2005 to 2011 on the Children’s Peace Prize website.  Consider the factors that shaped these youths’ lives and their goal to fight to make a difference in the world.