Today is GIVING TUESDAY.
According to givingtuesday.org — today we reimagine a world built upon shared humanity and generosity. It is a day when we can dream about and commit to creating a world transformed by radical generosity.
I am inspired today by the words of Mary Louise Kelly, host of All Things Considered on NPR, who said —
“Giving Tuesday is a day to lift up the things you value — the things you care about — the things that rely on an engaged community to thrive.”
Today I am reminded that my mission/calling/purpose is to create healthy communities. I want to reimagine a world where everyone has access to healthcare, is healthy, and lives, works, plays, prays, and thrives in a healthy environment.
I want to create health (eco)systems.
I want to invite you to join me in this mission TODAY.
If you are thinking about participating in Giving Tuesday, please make a donation in support of public health. There are obvious organizations you can support, including the CDC Foundation, Foundation for the NIH, American Public Health Association, and more. #give2publichealth
Or you can look a little closer to home (which is what I am doing) — look for organizations that are doing work in support of creating healthy communities but may not have the words public or community health in their titles. Specifically, look for a local Women’s Services organization that is caring for individuals trying to get out of abusive situations, your local library (literacy is intimately tied to improved health and healthy communities), or a group supporting the arts.
Why the arts? Because —
Creating healthy communities means that collectively we seek to make healthy communities for all through collective action, policies, programs, access to healthcare, access to education, and so much more…
So please — take the opportunity today to give and tie your generosity to the creation of healthy communities. And if you cannot give money, think about other ways to give today. I found this list of 50 Powerful Acts of Kindness to be inspiring.
Together we can reimagine a healthy world that is rooted in kindness & generosity.