I often refer to DRC as an all-inclusive community. Everyone who wants to join us is welcome.

Becoming part of a community comes with innumerable and clear perks - arguably, the most important is the innate sense of belonging. However, as a society, we don't often talk about the responsibilities each person carries along with the benefits.  

Everyone gets to be themselves and do what they need to feel safe - but their needs and desires are no more important than anyone else. Respect is our one rule, and the very best definition we have come up with is - we take care of each other, and you can't do that if you ignore, judge, or make demands of others.

Therein lies the tension and where (sometimes) difficult, uncomfortable (that we want to avoid), and open conversation, amongst all ages, is the key to a thriving, diverse, and dynamic community - where individual growth within the group is the ultimate goal. 

Wow, it was a busy first week at both Centers of kiddos getting reacquainted and welcoming new faces to the crews.

I seem to be having trouble articulating (wrestling and wrangling) my thoughts into their typical Sunday morning format. Once again, I am allowing the process to guide me to free-form them into something a bit more creative. Enjoy!

Our first day at both Centers is tomorrow - September 11th. We are excited to be back to welcome our returning kiddos as well as those who have recently joined us. Currently the Canton Center is filled to the brim with 28 kids (expected to be 30 by the end of the week) and DRC-East in Massena has 17 (expected to be 18) before long.

We are looking forward to a year filled with unlimited opportunities for exploration and amazing individual growth.

Stay tuned for photo dumps next week and more exciting news from each of the Centers.

You can support our work to provide the facilities and environment our kids need to acquire these life skills by contributing financially (you can do that to honor someone as four families from around the country did to celebrate my mother-in-law's life), sponsor a DRC Kiddo, share this blog each week, volunteer at one of the Centers, join our Board or a fundraising committee, or purchase an item from our Amazon Wish-list. Thank you!

When you are in the midst of something hard - like really, really hard, it feels like it will go on forever - with no end in sight.

But then, one day, it does --- just stop - leaving a huge empty space for yet another difficult thing to reside.

I am slowly learning through all the hard things - waiting till life gets easier to follow through on a dream or a quest - or to simply be happy - is a colossal waste of precious time.

Here come the cliches - galloping in hard and fast...  

Live life to the fullest - authentically with gratitude. Intentionally choose joyfulness. Treat others with respect, generosity, and kindness, without judgement. Life is hard enough - why be an @$$ and make it harder for other folks?

Because --- tomorrow is never guaranteed, and karma is a b*tch. 

Unbelievably, it is time to start another year. Both Centers will be open Monday Sept. 11th.
We look forward to another awesome year.  More news to follow in the coming weeks as we get back into the swing of things. In the meantime, you can check out all of the swag in our Printify shop. 

Thank you for indulging me as this week's blog takes the form of a Creative Meditation as a tender goodbye to my husbands' beloved mom. Until next week, stay safe and be well.

Summer Program begins next Monday the 21st. There are still a few spots left - register today.

The merch list has expanded with some new designs - take a peek. Every item you order supports DRC. https://deep-root-center.printify.me/products

Every one of us, at one time or another, has hit a brick wall. There are always a few options - come to a dead stop (give up the dream) or find a way - over, under, around, or through those bricks.

But what are the key characteristics of those folks who persevere - no matter what? Some would probably claim that grit, willpower, and discipline are the most important.

To a very small degree, I would agree - however, I believe the following four traits are even more imperative: 

1. Flexibility - the ability to turn on a dime - take in new information - form a new hypothesis - with the expectation that it will get messy and you will make mistakes while working on a different approach.
2. An Open Mind - be willing to look at change as an exciting adventure - understand that learning something new - that may be contrary to previously closely held beliefs - is how we grow as individuals and collectively as a society. 
3.  Outside-the-Box Thinking - the ability to be creative - see things from multiple angles - and devise solutions (hacks) for any challenge or problem that arises. (And, it is worth repeating, with the expectation that it will get messy and you will make mistakes while working on a different approach.)
4. Kindness and Empathy - simply (crudely) put - no one appreciates an a$$hole. Bullying your way through life may break through some brick walls, but you won't have anyone around you to enjoy the spoils.  

When you find yourself up against your next brick wall - consider exploring the possibilities - and in the process you may even find: a new way forward, your authentic self, and your joy. 

DRC Swag
Exciting news! The DRC merch shop is open! I am in the process of populating it with all-new designs for t-shirts, hoodies, and hats. Let us know if there is a particular item you would like with the DRC logo. Check it out here: https://deep-root-center.printify.me/products
You get great-looking swag, and your purchases support DRC.

DRC Board and Fundraising Committees
DRC is looking for folks who are happiest when they are creating and exploring outside-the-box ideas to join our board or sit on our fundraising committees. We need help sustaining and growing our unique presence in the NoCo. Our flexibility and commitment to diversity generate an ideal environment for folks who value collaboration over competition in our community. Please get in touch if you would like to help.

I have been contemplating the concept of legacies since the Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action, and during my children's visit home for the first time in a very long time and while I was writing a grant with the potential to be a game changer for DRC.

I thought about it on the macro level - how birthrights are the root of gross societal inequity and injustice (as evidenced by the judges of the high court who gutted the precedent of the past 60+ years); and, more importantly, on the individual level - how each of us leaves a legacy that is often the direct opposite of entitlement.  

In terms of the latter, for the past five months, as one of her caretakers, I have been a direct witness to a matriarch who, despite her (terribly unfair)  illness (which has literally taken her voice and much of her mobility), still retains her enduring spark of life as evidenced by her contagious humor (and giggles), generosity, gratitude, intelligence, positivity, and familial devotion. Her children, grandchildren, and friends are abundantly aware of how fortunate they are to receive these beautiful gifts as their living legacy.

While writing the grant, I had to explain DRC's value to our wider community and why we consider ourselves successful. I realized in the midst of laboring over the concise 150-word answers that these could be defined as our legacy - and it is embedded in our commitment to being the only non-coercive, safe, flexible educational environment in the NoCo that works with any child who needs us, no matter their family's financial situation, which has created a diverse community to be proud of. Our success is defined by our ability to take their interests and aspirations and use them as the basis for their learning plans - which ultimately leads to happy kids excited about learning and exploring new possibilities.  

It sounds cheesy and unrealistic when faced with our current reality; nevertheless, we all have the opportunity to consciously and purposely, with gratitude and humility, find (be) the good in every situation and work toward making the world a better place.

How would you define your legacy if you had to explain it in 150 words or less? 

Register today!

Summer Program
There are only a few spots left for each week. Register your child today.

We are always seeking innovative ways to raise funds for DRC. Our needs are many. We require funds to: hire and pay staff a living wage, pay off the mortgage and renovate and expand the Canton Center, find and purchase a new home for the Massena Center, and all of the other things on the list of any other not-for-profit.

If you have any ideas for grants or other fundraising endeavors, or are interested in joining the fundraising committee, please get in touch. We are also seeking dynamic, energetic, outside the box thinking folks to join our Board. Thank you!

Did you just read the title in that whiny child voice that echoes through every parent's head and strikes fear in their hearts? It is such a dreadfully annoying utterance many cave and become the ringmaster of their very own three-ring circus for two months - simply because those cranky, fractious voices send them over the edge. And they are afraid bored kids lead to dull minds and laziness. (Or, maybe our Puritanical roots are to blame - we fear that "idle hands are the devil's workshop.")

What if I told you there was a way to increase your child's creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills without managing an over-the-top, exhausting schedule that only serves as a stop-gap?  

It is really quite simple - try saying "good" as your only response to "I'm bored." And then walk away, turn up the volume on your earbuds, or bury yourself in your own creative activity.

Here's the layman's explanation of the science behind that one-word reply: our brain needs downtime - it allows the gears in the background to begin turning and the accumulated experiences, thoughts, and stored knowledge, time to coalesce into really cool ideas or solutions to a problem it is working on. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as an "aha moment."

Kids don't require "canned" (pre-chewed activities) or busyness to survive. In fact, they are better served by slowing down, being "bored," and allowing their extraordinary brains to run rampant - giving them time to experiment, explore, and play. That, for some, is a scary thought. Because all that untethered creativity is quite often unpredictable and really, really messy.

We tend to forget that uncertainty, chaos, and disorder are where creativity and learning collide, leading to unbound innovation and discovery.  

Let them be bored and stand back to watch in amazement as their creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills soar. It is well worth the mess and those few moments of cringy discomfort upon hearing that dreaded two-word declaration this summer.

,Stay tuned for Fundraising News - we are planning a Craft Fair in Massena in August. We will have details within the next week. In the meantime you can help keep DRC alive by contributing on our donation page or purchasing an item on our Amazon wishlist. It will be sent directly to us.
Thank you!

Happy 4th of July!

With hindsight being 20/20 - when you look back at all the things you didn't do because you were afraid --- which of those things would you do now?

On the one hand, fearfulness keeps us safe from all(!) the stupidly dangerous stuff; on the other, it stops us from exploring and discovering all the experiences that may be positively life-changing. And within that statement lays the paradox. The goal is to find the balance.  

I think part of the problem can be found in the trendiness of using fear as a motivator -  FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) is one prime example.

The refusal to embrace change or try something new - while they might seem on the opposite end of FOMO is motivated by fear as well.

We, humans, are very good at making excuses for staying in situations or doing things (keeping up with the Joneses) that are not conducive to our well-being - physical, mental, or our future selves. And insisting that those around us remain stuck too - because - what if... fill in the blank with every negative outcome you can imagine.

Or - what if you discovered that by simply opening your mind, you would begin generating fresh, original, and innovative ideas and, in the process, find deep joy and satisfaction and help others find theirs.

Fear stops creativity in its tracks - whereas confidence cracks us wide open to imagine all the possibilities that life can be. I invite you to find your sweet spot within the paradox.

We are still assessing the feasibility of offering an after school program at the Canton Center. If you need after school care or know of someone who is looking - please complete the afternoon program interest form found here.

DRC's afternoon program is completely flexible. We offer drop in options and we charge less than any other after school program in the area.

DRC Summer Day Camp Program still has some spots available for all three weeks - 8/14, 8/21, & 8/28. Learn more here or register here.

... stupid, dense, or thick-headed - not by a long shot! I am so very sorry if that is the internalized story you have been telling yourself when you consider doing something particularly challenging but stop because you are triggered by traumatic memories of failure or ridicule.

The cultural standard of pathologizing, labeling, judging, and pointing out deficits and inadequacies has produced a large population of self-doubters who are deathly afraid of experimenting, getting creative, and trying something new - because they may be wrong or screw up or punished for simply stepping outside the box of tradition and conformity.  

Every single one of us holds deep inside a capacity for brilliance. None of us share the same talents, skills, challenges, or life experiences as anyone else in this whole wide world.

As I see it, the only way forward is to embrace a new paradigm that highlights each individual's positive characteristics, celebrates their innate abilities, interests, and intense curiosity, honors their struggles, and guides them to discover their very own hacks for overcoming obstacles to do the things they want to do.  

Join me in creating a reality where authenticity, uniqueness, and originality are the new standard of excellence. And where every child (person) is excited to try something new and challenging because they believe wholeheartedly (and fiercely) in themselves and their abilities. 

Several wisps of ideas have drifted into my consciousness at various moments this past week but only flitted through long enough for me to realize they were there - none of them landed long enough to settle in, get cozy, and inspire a post.

Over these past ten years, I have learned not to struggle and fight - to write something only to get words on a page or force all the creative sparks into an uncomfortable pattern when they are making it abundantly clear they desire a brief vacation.

This is my brain shouting, take a rest - and this time, I will listen.

Doing the work that needs to be done - not for profit or the glory - simply because you see the need for your particular talent or skill set and want to help however you can.

Sociologists would probably consider this utopia - a society where everyone works and plays together for the good of all - and where everyone is taken care of.  

There are places in the world where this concept exists, but I can only imagine it is most likely dying out. Native South Africans, as well as other African cultures, call it Ubuntu. And it is the antithesis of Capitalism. You see, you can't make excessive (stupid) amounts of money when folks are committed to sharing their skills and resources to help each other.  

This is why I am always super impressed and excited to work with people who see a problem or a niche to be filled and dive in to create a unique solution. These folks are incredibly passionate about doing the good work for the benefit of all. Not because they see a path to riches but because they genuinely care and want to help others who are also doing good work.

I recently met someone accomplishing just that, and it is inspiring to know that the fundamental desire to help is still alive and well.

Any of us can step up, fill a gap, create something, share our beautifully authentic gifts, and without a doubt, change the world - together! 

As an ongoing fundraiser, DRC will be holding monthly raffles - our last payout was $870.  Stay-tuned to learn how you can buy a chance to win.

Have a fantastic summer!  We will be back in August for Canton Summer Program and then our Regular Programs will begin September 5th. If your family would like to join us - please get in touch.

Look for our collaborative art piece at the Heritage Park Whimsical Art walk in Canton. It will open on June 10th - with a celebration and party and will remain up for two months during the summer.  Thank you to Anneke L. of Grasse River Heritage for inviting DRC to participate.

Thank you (so far) to Potsdam Agway, High Peaks Winery, and ABCD Hardware and Supply for hosting DRC donation buckets. Please support these community minded businesses and while you are there - drop a little love in our buckets. Thank you!

"Go explore and have fun" are the last words I say to every kid (teen) after talking with them and taking notes to write their IHIP (homeschool plan) - whether they are planning to be "in-person" at one of the Centers or are one of the many kids I help through consultation.

Why? Very simply, because they need to hear that learning is enjoyable and is all about individual interests and discovery. And more importantly - most of these kids, like many adults, have had the complete opposite experience. For a large portion, it is, at best, drudgery - and at worst - excruciatingly painful (myself included).

We know that the brain shuts down under stress and discomfort - which means expecting anyone to learn under pressurized, one-size-fits-all, coercive conditions is beyond ridiculous.

Science backs up the integral connection between learning and fun. Play and the inherent joy of natural exploration - ignite creativity, problem-solving skills, and all of that pure awesomeness within each of us.

My instructions will always stand - go - explore, have fun, and in the process you will most likely learn something new today.

This coming Friday is our final day of this academic year. Both Centers will be celebrating with a field trip to my house in the woods to play and roast hotdogs and marshmallows over a campfire. 

Enjoy this photo dump from this past week. 

Our Raffle fundraiser is still in full swing - purchase your ticket from any DRC Parent or Board member or get in touch with Maria or Karen.

The DRC year is coming to a close. We will be finishing up the week of May 22nd with celebrations at both Centers. Enjoy the photo dump from this past week.

We had a little sister visit Canton for a few days. She will be joining us in the Fall.  Little Sis ate a "zebra cake" while making cupcakes, cracked the eggs for it, went fishing, and generally had a fantastic time with the crew! Let us know if you have a little one who would be interested in checking us out.

Happy Mother's Day to all who have nurtured and supported young people and will continue to do so - most especially my Mom, Sharon, my MIL, Bonnie, and all the other folks who have loved and encouraged me through the years.

This is another quote that requires the back story. When I am in the office, doing admin work, I can hear everything going on upstairs. On Monday, I heard E complaining and fussing about the computer she was using. It kept disconnecting from the internet for no apparent reason while she was attempting to participate in a multiplayer game with her friend P. Her grumbling got louder and more strident as her frustration grew.

I went in and said quietly, "You realize you have the power to walk away, right? You don't have to be frustrated and angry. You have options." Then turned to go back to my desk. She took that in and then, after a few beats, stood up and picked up her doll.

Not ten minutes later, I heard her repeating the essence of my message to P, who was frustrated with something in the game she was playing.  

This is Free Range, Self-Directed Learning in a nutshell. I didn't demand that she stop playing - I only reminded her that she had options. And because she was able to take charge of what was making her feel icky - she was able to prompt her friend with a similar message.

The DRC 50/50 Raffle is in full swing.  Reach out to any DRC family, Board Member, Karen or me to purchase your tickets.

And finally, a few peeks into the past week at both Centers....

One of the many hallmarks of neurodivergence is procrastination. Before I go any further, I want to recognize that no other five-syllable word seems to carry the same burden of judgment, guilt, and negativity. With that being said, it may be the never-ending to-do list, the anxiety about the future, or the depths of hellish exhaustion (being without my thyroid meds. for two weeks did not help that situation), but whatever the case, I recently, unwittingly, began to notice, not out of shame, just observation, the role procrastination plays in my life and my emotional health. Something just clicked. I can clearly (for the most part) identify why (when) I put off particular tasks. And it seems to present itself in two very different scenarios - one helpful and the other - not so much.  

And that is where this anecdote comes in. As an employer, DRC remits payroll taxes. The forms and the taxes are due each quarter - one month after the quarter ends. So, in this case, today. These always represent an enormous financial hit for DRC, especially at this time of year when other important, weighty expenses are due. I knew we would be "borrowing" thousands from the Money Market account to cover these obligations. Therefore, I buried my head in the sand and put off the task till Friday morning, when I knocked it out in less than 30 minutes. Yes, it was traumatizing to transfer those funds - but hiding from the pain didn't make it easier. And crossing it off the to-do list lifted some emotional burden off my shoulders.

On the other hand, procrastination is arguably the most powerful tool in my creative toolbox. When I have a kernel of an idea and sit down to write or design something, and then realize I am spending way too much time wrangling and wrestling with it  - I know it hasn't finished percolating in the background and needs more time to incubate - before it is ready to come out. In most cases, I just let it simmer in the depths of that juicy creative space.

The only time I force something is when I have promised someone I would have a project for them in a particular time frame. I don't normally rely on external stimuli, but in this case, it is what I need to follow through on obligations - knowing that it may not be my best effort because it didn't get enough time to develop is sometimes painful, but it is never worth making someone wait on me.

Circling back, I clearly have not mastered the art of procrastination - quite yet. I don't know why that sigh of relief and the knowledge that I can usually get whatever I dread - done in very little time - is not enough to motivate me to do them moments before the deadlines. That may be the next piece of this to figure out. I'll let you know when (if) I do.  

In the meantime - let's all promise to give ourselves and others the grace to figure out how to leverage the art of procrastination to our advantage.

We had a very full week at both Centers. Thank you to the group of parents & volunteers who met at DRC-East Wednesday morning to begin brainstorming fundraising ideas.

And I want to take a few moments to recognize the enormous contribution the Foster/Peet crew make to DRC. The list of things they take on is endless - but the latest is these beautifully repaired steps and new hand rail.

Enjoy these photo galleries from the past week.

Survival of the fittest - bigger, faster, stronger - eat or be eaten. This is the tale (we) humans have been telling ourselves for eons - or at least since Darwin and Wallace proposed their theories. (Side note: What a perfect allegory - the "winner" - who told his "story" first - forever has his name identified with the elegant theory that explains life itself, and interestingly, Darwin and Wallace were both students of economic theory.)

This misguided, simplified, and mythical notion of survival of the fittest drives everything in society and upholds the concept of scarcity. The triumphant gets the prize - the loser is left with the scraps (or eaten alive).

The fundamental flaw in how we use competition sits within our societal perceptions, including our definition of what makes someone the "fittest."  What is the determiner of our ability to survive individually or as a species? We forget (ignore) that together as a group of diverse individuals, we are far more creative and abundantly smarter than a lone "normal" (fit) specimen dominating (scamming) the system for wealth and power. By pursuing status and the "win" through the promotion of rivalry, the innate value of cooperation (taking care of one another) is completely lost.

Disproportionate inequity and injustice are the direct results of this defect. Gross surplus to the "fittest" (elite winners) and limited access to resources and support for the "unfit" (losers) will always be the default mode.

To this point, kids, from birth, are indoctrinated into this toxic culture that immerses and forces them into a competition of survival of the fittest for everything from affection to grades, wins on the playing field, and social status. And punishment and reward - sticks and carrots - are the external motivators - ultimately responsible for the death of authenticity, kindness, empathy, curiosity, creativity, and the ability to work together cooperatively to make decisions and solve problems to make the world a better place for us all.

DRC-East had a good week after their Spring Break. Thank you to Virginia G. and Sharon M. for coming in to spend time and share your talents with the East Peeps.  Also, thanks again to former board member, Steve Hamilton - he donated a comfy couch to the East Center a few weeks ago.

Afternoon Program

We are assessing interest for bring back an Afternoon Program to the Canton Center. This is a free range opportunity for young people who attend other local schools. There is a drop-in option - you only pay for the days your child attends. Please visit this page to learn more and complete the Google Form if you are interested.

Kids (teens) are the agents of chaos. Anyone who spends time with children of all ages will understand this statement - profoundly.

Fun fact: all that chaotic energy is where curiosity and the natural desire to learn reside - where the rubber meets the road - and where a genuine understanding of universal concepts is nailed.

Because: kids (all of us) should have the opportunity to explore the world through full-on, no-holds-barred experimentation. Life and the learning process are literally never-ending science projects. (See how Neil DeGrasse Tyson explains this concept here.)

However, when you intentionally remove all the wonder, awe, and sources of curiosity and exploration to replace them with a sterile, uninteresting, and dull facility filled with predictable, pre-planned rote activities - where a well-intentioned adult directs and controls everything (even the play and creativity) to actively avoid chaos, it becomes the antithesis of a learning environment. (This is why classroom management is an "essential" skill every young student teacher is taught.)

But what do exploration and discovery look like in real-time - in authentic self-directed learning environments?

• Kids of all ages will be found playing, creating, and imagining together - freely.
• It means most tools and implements will not be used for what they were intended. (Like, say, using a knitting needle to roll clay flat!!)
• Going for a walk - never means just going for a walk - there will always be guaranteed high adventure.
• You will hear, "I didn't expect that to happen," more than once a day.
• Sticks - just sticks (you all know what I am talking about).
• Dirt (sand & mud) - there will always be more than a few holes dug in the yard - just cause.
• Rocks & stones - the love affair can't be minimized.
• Water in all its splashy forms is utterly fascinating.
• Mixing random things together to see what will happen...
• Hide and seek is the go-to game - for every age.
• It is generally loud. Some would claim noise-canceling headphones are a lifesaver.
• The art room will always look like a few natural disasters hit within moments of each other.
• There will never be enough cardboard boxes and other recycled materials to satisfy everyone.
• "Clean" has varying interpretations - depending upon the person and what level of the project they are currently engaged.
• You will never be able to find a pen that actually writes - when you need one.
• Random pieces of clothing and shoes show up everywhere and are never claimed. (Hilarious observation: Moms always know which items belong to their child - even when the child denies owning them.)
• No matter how hard you try to avoid it - you will always have paint or other assorted goop on your clothes.

Many ask - but what is your role - where do you fit in all that chaotic energy if you are not trying to control it?

As facilitators, we take a step back and observe. (Or, more precisely, as I have said before, we get "to hell" out of the way of all the real learning). We also provide all those resources and materials and all the unconditional support - a requested hug, insight on a challenge, deep conversation about endless topics, or we are that safe person to sit in silence with. Our primary agenda is to be flexible and adapt to the needs of every kiddo, and our only concern is their overall well-being. Because, honestly, the learning will always happen - naturally.

At the end of every day, each young person understands they can rely on us to be their champion in any situation. When you actively work to build that level of mutual trust and respect - everyone feels safe in their authentic state (and varying levels) of chaos.

(This article from Dr. Peter Gray helps define the difference between Progressive And Self-Directed Education.)

We hope all of our DRC-East Peeps had an awesome Spring Break, and wish all of the DRC-Canton Peeps a fun filled week of adventure during their Spring Break.

As we welcome "true" Spring (and bright sunshine) to the NoCo, I want to acknowledge the love, encouragement, and support surrounding me. I could not do "this" (all of it) without all the folks who have my back every single day. Thank you!   

Happy - Ramadan, Passover, and Easter to those who observe these high Holy days. May your Spring be blessed with an abundance of moments to explore all the possibilities that openly present themselves. And don't be afraid to probe the sparkling gems of opportunity that may be hidden beneath layers of discomfort and unease.

DRC-East is closed this coming week for Spring Break.  DRC-Canton will be in session T,Th & F this coming week and then we will be on Spring Break the week of April 17th. 

A timely reminder - you are free to ignore things you don't like, make you uncomfortable, or go against your belief system.

Yes, indeed, absolutely make choices that make sense for you.

You are not allowed, however, to legislate, dictate, ordain, or judge (comment on) another person's appearance, lifestyle, decisions, or preferences.

If you find it impossible to be kind - then choose to be quiet.

Free will is for everyone, not just a select "virtuous" - few. 

This quote came from when these two decided to grate cheddar cheese to put on the spaghetti they helped make for Thursday's lunch in the DRC Canton kitchen. K was trying to use the side of the grater with the smallest holes. B was trying to convince him that it works much better if you use the side with the larger holes.

This exchange perfectly highlights the comfortable family like atmosphere at DRC. They feel safe enough to jokingly "argue" all while supporting each other to be their authentic selves in their friendship.

It was a busy week at both Centers this past week...

I have difficulty wrapping my mind around the insanity of forcing individual beliefs, ideology, and morality on others, and deliberately misrepresenting those you "disagree" with. Sadly, we live in an era where the person with the loudest, most outraged voice gets the most attention. Whether it is a dipstick politician (you know the descriptor I really want to use) actively building their base of support or the folks in that base who subscribe to the utter nonsense they are pedaling.

Hate and divisiveness sell. Generating fear around the "other" gets higher billing than acts of generosity and kindness. People are then emboldened to be judgemental and nasty - because - the powerful and influential lead by example with their spitefulness, small-mindedness, intentional misrepresentation, and fake indignation.  

When a group of young teens understands LGBTQIA+ definitions and issues better than many adults in their lives or the folks who represent them in political office - we have a serious problem.

This past week, a few DRC Canton kids decided to create a new "ALL INCLUSIVE" sign on a black poster board for our "Chill Space." They were inspired by a very cool EQUALITY flag hanging in the North Star Teens' Common Room in Sunderland, MA.  

They spent Thursday in the art room planning, painting, talking, giggling, and connecting - on a profound level. Later in the day, while they painted small flags representing various LGBTQIA communities to glue onto the sign, our twenty-year-old apprentice popped into the room to hang out - for a bit. She was generally uninformed and genuinely curious about the conversation around LGBTQIA+ and began asking questions. The 12-14-year-olds were happy to respond to her curiosity - with thorough well-framed (unsnarky) answers.

These Peeps inspire me every single day. They are kind, respectful, and openly willing to include everyone in their conversations and community.  

Again I ask if these young people understand that offering kindness and compassion while embracing diversity in all of its forms can only make us smarter, stronger, and more resilient, and are the right thing to do, why is it so hard and confusing for some to comprehend?

Five-year-old E told fourteen-year-old V that she plans to open a doggie daycare at Deep Root Center and that V needed to help her make the sign. V, of course, complied - cause of cute puppies and the opportunity to paint said cute puppies... E did write and color in "dog" all by herself by copying it from an interactive veterinary workbook she adores.

From marketing and business standpoints - this idea is spot on. Practicality is another issue. We may need to invite this child to join the DRC board; she is fiercely original! 

The action was non-stop at both Centers this past week. 

And finally - here are the photo galleries from this past week: